Japan’s Emperor, Empress Dine with Belgian Royal Family

Brussels, June 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, on an official visit to Belgium, had dinner with Belgian King Philippe and his family at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon, a retreat of the family, on Sunday. The other participants in the dinner, which began around 7:30 p.m., were Queen Mathilde and the Belgian royal couple’s four children–Princess Elisabeth, who is first in line to the throne, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore, according to Japan’s Imperial Household Agency. They enjoyed their meal at a garden of the castle in Ciergnon, southern Belgium, for about an hour and a half. Before the dinner, the Japanese Imperial couple and the Belgian royals posed for press photographs in the castle garden. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde sat on a bench, with the four young royals standing behind them. The Emperor spoke with the Queen, and the Empress conversed with the King in a relaxed atmosphere. The Emperor and the Empress, who arrived in Belgium on Saturday after their trip to the Netherlands, will stay at the castle until Monday. The Imperial couple are scheduled to attend a welcoming ceremony as well as a banquet hosted by the King and the Queen on Tuesday. They will return to Japan on Friday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]