Empress Masako of Japan wore a surprising accessory during her visit to the U.K. with Emperor Naruhito. When they were welcomed, she put on a face mask that matched her white outfit for the ride to Buckingham Palace. But there was more to it than just fashion.
Masako, 60, was all smiles without her face mask when the day officially began.
On June 25, during a horse-drawn carriage ride after the ceremonial welcome, Empress Masako wore the mask. Once they went inside Buckingham Palace for lunch and to look at some items from the Royal Collection, she took it off.
The reason for the mask? Empress Masako is allergic to horses, according to royal reporter Rebecca English from the Daily Mail.
Prince Louis, age 6, also had a funny moment with horses. During a carriage ride at Trooping the Colour in June 2023, he briefly held his nose, probably because of the horses’ smell.
Prince William greeted her and Emperor Naruhito at their hotel in London.
The Prince of Wales, 41, took on this key role alone, highlighting his position as heir to the throne, a duty his wife, Kate Middleton, has joined him for in the past.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, continues to stay out of the spotlight while receiving cancer treatment. Although she appeared in public for the first time in nearly six months at Trooping the Colour on June 15, it didn’t mean she was back to work.
“She has been doing what’s right for her and recovering privately at home. She is dealing with it the best she can,” a source close to the royal family tells.
Prince William then accompanied the Emperor and Empress of Japan to Horse Guards Parade, where they greeted King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, at the ceremonial welcome.
Presentations were made, accompanied by a Royal Salute and the playing of the Japanese national anthem.
King Charles and Emperor Naruhito, aged 64, inspected a Guard of Honour formed by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, where Prince William holds the honorary colonel position. Following this, they embarked on a carriage ride along The Mall in London, adorned with both Japanese and Union Jack flags, making their way to Buckingham Palace.
State visits are pivotal diplomatic duties for the British royal family, crucial for strengthening relationships with nations worldwide. The upcoming visit from Japan was announced in late April, marking King Charles’ return to public duties amidst his ongoing cancer treatment.
A woman stumbled upon a dusty, tattered suitcase hidden in some underbrush
During her commute to work, a nurse from Essex, England, stumbled upon a discarded suitcase on the sidewalk. Her curiosity piqued, she decided to take a closer look, leading to an unexpected revelation! Inside the suitcase, nestled within some foliage, were 15 kittens, each just three to five weeks old.
The bag had been deliberately punctured with holes to allow air in, indicating that whoever left the kittens behind wanted them to survive. Notably, the suitcase was abandoned right next to a prominent animal rescue facility.
The nurse quickly reached out for assistance from Alison Gamble, a staff member at the shelter. After examining the kittens, Alison expressed her relief at their condition, noting: “They are in good shape, though it’s evident they have been separated from their mother”.
Since the kittens were still nursing, they required feeding from humans to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Fortunately, the dedicated team at the shelter is prepared to care for these 15 little ones until they can find permanent homes. At this stage, the kittens are too young and fragile to be released.
“Six of them are showing signs of eye infections, while the others seem generally healthy, but we will continue to monitor them closely to ensure they remain well”, Alison added. Check out the video below to hear the full story of these fortunate kittens!
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