Japan’s Emperor, Empress Attend Welcome Ceremony in Brussels

Brussels, June 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who are on a state visit to Belgium, attended a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace of Brussels on Tuesday. The Imperial couple alighted from a car at the square in front of the palace and were greeted by Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. They received an honor guard salute and listened as the national anthems of both countries were played. After the ceremony, the two couples moved to the City Hall of Brussels, where Empress Masako and Queen Mathilde received bouquets from children. Local people and tourists cheered when the couples appeared on the city hall’s balcony. They smiled and waved to the gathered crowd. The Emperor and the Empress later met with some 50 students from local Japanese schools in the city hall’s courtyard. The Imperial couple are slated to attend the banquet hosted by the Belgian King and Queen later in the day. The Emperor will give a speech. Ahead of the banquet, the Emperor and the Empress are scheduled to meet with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and visit the Belgian parliament. The Imperial couple arrived in Belgium after their state visit to the Netherlands. They stayed at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon, a retreat of the Belgian royal family, until Monday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]