Royals turn out in full glamour for Emperor Naruhito’s Enthronement Banquet

Royal from the world over turned out in full glamour on Tuesday night in Japan’s Imperial Palace for the Enthronement Banquet (called a Kyōen no Gi) for Emperor Naruhito whose Enthronement Ceremony had taken place earlier in the day in the Imperial Palace’s State Room.

The white-tie evening began around 9 pm local time with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greeting their guests at their gala dinner before those invited were able to view the Imperial Throne in the State Room and listen to musical performances by court entertainers.

Guests dined on “washoku” delicacies from Japan, and the hosts took into account any special dietary requirements for the 450 invitees in the Homei-Den State Banquet Hall. For example, halal dishes were prepared for the Muslim guests while others dined on grilled young seabream and salt steamed abalone. Wines included 2011 Corton-Charlemagne and 2007 Chateau Margaux.

A source at the Imperial Household Agency told Kyodo News about the dinner, “We want our guests to enjoy Japanese delicacies from mountains and the sea.”

Those in attendance last night included the Prince of Wales, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Prince Albert of Monaco, the King and Queen of Malaysia, along with other foreign dignitaries and government officials.

The Emperor and Empress arrived ahead of their guests waving to those assembled, and the others arrived by limousine in quick succession as the cameras flashed away.

Several of the royals and others in attendance wore royal orders from Japan, but those who do not hold any orders from the country wore their national order, like Crown Princess Mary who had the Danish Order of the Elephant draped across her body.

Later today, a royal tea reception will be hosted by Their Imperial Majesties.

Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne on 1 May after the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito (now known as the Emperor Emeritus) on the previous day. He was the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in nearly 200 years, and a special law had to be enacted by the Japanse Diet (legislative branch) to allow for the renouncing of the throne.