The UK’s State Visit schedule for 2020 is rather light with just one incoming event marked in the diary so far. And now questions have been raised over whether this sole trip can go ahead because of concerns over coronavirus.
The Emperor and Empress of Japan are set to arrive at Windsor in the spring for their first State Visit since the start of the Reiwa era last year. However, with worries about the spread of Covid-19 in Japan and its neighbouring countries, the possibility of postponement or even cancellation is beginning to loom. Questions over the State Visit became more pressing after Japanese ministers confirmed that this year’s Summer Olympics, set for Tokyo, could be put back because of the virus.
Last month, birthday celebrations for Emperor Naruhito were put on ice as Covid-19 continued to spread through Japan. As he addressed the media to mark his 60th birthday, the Emperor said ”I would like to send my sympathies to those infected and their families”. He also said his thoughts were with those trying to contain the virus as well as those treating patients. Soon afterwards, the Japanese government ordered that all the schools in the country should be shut – they will remain closed until the end of the country’s spring holidays at the end of March.
Around 200 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Japan so far with one woman in the country catching it again after appearing to shake off the virus following her first infection. Meanwhile, there have been 51 confirmed cases in the UK.
The exact dates of the Japanese State Visit haven’t yet been confirmed. When Buckingham Palace announced the trip, in January, it said it would be a spring event. The Prince of Wales, who has played a major part in recent incoming State Visits, is out of the UK for most of the middle and later parts of March as he visits Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan making April a more likely time for the trip. Easter falls on April 12th this year while the Royal Family is expected to play a major part in events marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day in the first week of May.
Whenever the visit is scheduled for, officials will keep a close eye on the spread of the virus.
