Crown Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko confirm coronation attendance

Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan have confirmed their attendance at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation.

The country’s imperial household has announced that the royal couple will represent Emperor Naruihto, 63, at the historic event on 6 May.

The pair will reportedly leave Tokyo two days before the coronation, which will take place at Westminster Abbey in London.

After flying on a government-chartered plane, Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife will stay in the five-star hotel Claridge’s in Mayfair for three days.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, Japan received an invitation from the British Royal Family to the coronation last month.

Although Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako attended the Queen’s funeral in September 2022, the ruler has asked his younger brother Crown Prince Fumihito, 57, to represent him at the coronation.

The Crown Prince is the current heir presumptive and his teenage son Akishino is second in line to succeed his uncle. 

In January, Prince Albert of Monaco became the first royal to publicly confirm his attendance at the event.

Monaco’s crown prince, 64, spoke fondly of the British King ahead of his 6 May coronation, calling him ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Albert confirmed he and his wife Princess Charlene would attend, adding: ‘I’m certain that it’s going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one.’

Albert added: ‘We’ve maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I haven’t talked to him personally since the Queen’s funeral.’

The prince, who is looking forward to attending the king’s coronation, added: ‘I’m certain His Majesty will add his own ‘personal touches’ to the ceremonies, but what those will be, I’m sure I don’t know.’

Prince Albert went onto reveal that himself and his wife Princess Charlene, will definitely be at the ceremony to watch the king’s crowning, however their 8-year-old twins Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella might be ‘too young’.

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The pair pictured arriving at the Easter service at St George’s Chapel on Sunday

King Charles’ official coronation invites were unveiled last week. The invitation has been designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator, and a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, of which the King is an Honorary Member

However, it was later revealed that Prince Albert had yet to actually receive an official invite when he gave the interview.

According to the Daily Mail’s Ephraim Hardcastle, the royal had been referencing customary round robin missive sent by Buckingham Palace to heads of state asking for details of the delegates they plan to send.

By convention, crowned heads send representatives instead of turning up personally – which is what Emperor Naruhito has chosen to do.

In 1953, Albert’s dad Prince Rainier sent his father Prince Pierre to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Queen Juliana of the Netherlands sent her husband and the Kings of Sweden, Norway and Denmark sent relatives.

Prince Albert of Monaco became the first royal to publicly confirm his attendance at the event in January. Pictured with wife Charlene in June 2010

Royal insiders are still ‘none the wiser’ as to whether Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will attend the coronation  next month

Earlier this month, it was revealed that royal insiders are still ‘none the wiser’ as to whether Harry and Meghan plan to come to the Coronation, despite the deadline for RSVPs closing last week.

Sources have said that the April 3 cut-off date has now passed and staff have still not been told whether the King’s estranged son and his wife are accepting his invitation to attend, even though the event is now just a month away.

The issue is said to be causing a ‘headache’ for organisers, who are trying to finalise details such as seating arrangements, cars, and security for VIPs attending the historic ceremony on May 6.

And even if they did decide to attend, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not be allowed to stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony next to the King and Queen because they are no longer working royals. 

The monarch will be joined by a select few who show the ‘heartbeat and future of his family’ and who have dedicated their lives to public service. Charles and Camilla will arrive at Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey in a Gold State coach, followed by the ‘final group of 15’ which would not make room for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.