Gifts and displays as Japan's emperor visits Buckingham Palace

By Sean Coughlan, @seanjcoughlan, Royal correspondent, BBC News King Charles greeted his guests in Japanese as the emperor and empress of Japan were given the full splendour of a Buckingham Palace state banquet. He toasted the Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako with a message that translated as “Welcome back to Britain”. The dinner included poached langoustines, basil mousse, Cornish turbot, quai

[rawwell]

"But the Japanese visit - planned before the election was called - has gone ahead without the usual meeting with the prime minister in 10 Downing Street. "