Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda welcome Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko at the Presidential Palace as the Japanese royal couple began a tour of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The Polish president and first lady have welcomed Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko as the royal couple begins a tour of Poland.
An official welcoming ceremony took place Friday at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. Akishino and Kiko also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The couple's tour will include concerts and other cultural events in Warsaw and Krakow, and they will travel Tuesday to Finland.
The European tour marks the centenary of Japan's diplomatic relations with Poland and Finland.
It is the first foreign trip by members of the imperial family since Emperor Naruhito, the elder brother of Akishino, ascended to the throne May 1 after the abdication of their father, Emperor Akihito.
Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda welcome Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko at the Presidential Palace as the Japanese royal couple began a tour of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda welcome Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko at the Presidential Palace as the Japanese royal couple began a tour of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda welcome Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko at the Presidential Palace as the Japanese royal couple began a tour of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
Japanese Crown Princess Kiko looks out the window of a car as she and Crown Prince Akishino arrive for a welcoming ceremony at the Polish Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
Japanese Crown Princess Kiko looks out the window of a car as she and Crown Prince Akishino arrive for a welcoming ceremony at the Polish Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press
Polish President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda welcome Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko at the Presidential Palace as the Japanese royal couple began a tour of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, June 28, 2019. The visit marks the centenary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
The Associated Press