Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided not to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on the 19th, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on the 14th.
Kyodo News, citing a government official, said, “I received an invitation from the UK for two people, including the head of state, to attend, but it was decided that the emperor and the queen would attend.”
The Prime Minister’s attendance was put on hold, Kyodo News said, as Queen Masako, who is recovering, is expected to accompany Emperor Naruhito to Britain.
Earlier, Japanese media reported that Prime Minister Kishida was considering a visit to the UK to attend the Queen’s Office, and then to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
The Queen’s funeral is expected to be attended by heads of state, including President Yoon Seok-yeol and US President Joe Biden.
There was also an opinion from the Japanese Prime Minister’s residence that “it is necessary to conduct condolence diplomacy in the UK”, and if Emperor Naruhito goes to the funeral alone, the possibility of the Prime Minister attending was also investigated.
Prime Minister Kishida also said, “The death of the British Queen is a great loss to the international community,” and expressed his desire to visit the site to express his condolences, according to Kyodo.
/yunhap news
