The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will carry out major overseas
visits to Papua New Guinea and Japan next month, Buckingham Palace
has announced.
Prince Edward will travel to Papua New Guinea from 14 to 17
September to represent King Charles III at events marking the
country’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia.
His programme will include attending a dawn flag-raising
ceremony and a State Dinner, presenting new Regimental Colours to
the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, and awarding 50th
Independence Anniversary Medals on behalf of the King to citizens
who have made significant contributions to the nation. The Duke
will also open the new National Court Complex and meet local
communities in Port Moresby.
From 18 to 22 September, Edward and Sophie will travel
to Japan, with engagements in Osaka and Tokyo aimed at
strengthening the UK–Japan relationship. Their schedule will focus
on youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, education, and
women in leadership. The couple will also visit the UK and Japanese
Pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, a major international event
expected to attract millions of visitors.
The visits come during a year in which the Duchess of Edinburgh has taken
on a more prominent international role for the monarchy. In July,
she travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to mark the 30th
anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, where she read a personal
message from the King and met survivors and bereaved families.
Earlier this September, she visited Alberta, Canada, holding
meetings with Indigenous leaders, youth organisations and community
groups.
The Duke last visited Japan in 2004, while this will be the
Duchess’s first official trip to the country. The King most
recently visited Japan in 2019, as Prince of Wales.
AloJapan.com