Overview
- The imperial couple spent about an hour and a half dining in the garden of the Royal Castle of Ciergnon in southern Belgium during a private family-style dinner hosted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
- Japan’s Imperial Household Agency confirmed guests included the Belgian royal couple’s four children: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore.
- The two families posed for photographs in the castle garden before the meal and shared relaxed conversation during the dinner, with the emperor speaking with Queen Mathilde and the empress speaking with King Philippe.
- The imperial couple arrived in Belgium after a visit to the Netherlands and will attend a formal welcoming ceremony and a state banquet hosted by the Belgian monarchs on Tuesday; they are scheduled to return to Japan on Friday, June 26.
- The setting at Ciergnon, a private royal retreat, highlights how personal hospitality and public photo opportunities are being used to project warm, monarchy-to-monarchy ties and broader diplomatic goodwill on this European tour.