08/11/10 15:54:15 iVFjIC3w0
URLﾘﾝｸ(news.yahoo.com)
Japan's stressed princess welcomes Spanish royals
Japan's Crown Princess Masako, who suffers from a stress-induced illness,
joined an official welcome ceremony for the first time in five years Monday to greet Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
Masako, a 44-year-old former diplomat educated at Harvard and Oxford,
has in recent years skipped official events and trips overseas due to her illness.
She was seen smiling as she accompanied Crown Prince Naruhito at the welcome ceremony at the imperial palace,
which was also attended by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and included an honour guard.
The princess, who has struggled to adjust to life inside the world's oldest monarchy, did not accompany the crown prince on a trip to Spain in July.
The emperor and empress were to hold a state banquet for the Spanish king and queen on Monday evening.
The Spanish royals, who will stay in Japan until November 14, will visit various areas outside Tokyo, including the ancient capital of Kyoto.