Japan and the UK Royal Family

Japan is fascinated by our Royal Family. Every few weeks I am asked by one of their TV channels to update them on what is happening in the UK. Their key interest at the moment is Harry and Meghan and who can blame them. They can’t quite believe their behaviour towards the senior royals is so, well, rude. No one would behave like that to their royal family they tell me.

I spoke via Zoom to one station yesterday. It is huge fun. The interviewer’s knowledge of English varies enormously but most have a very thick Japanese accent. Add to that a thick mask, I sometimes have to make wild guesses about what they are asking me. ‘Could you please take it off’ I tried at one point. My interviewer sat back in his chair in the studio looking shocked. ‘Ahh no’ he replied. So I struggled along. After a while I got the gist that ‘Aurwee’ was Harry which was a great help.

They wanted to know if he and Meghan and the two children would be coming over for Christmas. I explained how tricky it would be if they did and explained that Christmas with Her Majesty ran on very firm lines. There are about five changes in clothes each day to fit in with the activity and that no one can carry on eating once the Queen stops. Nor can they go to bed until she retires to her room. They loved it. “Just like our royal family” the interviewer explained. Another question was when did I think the Queen was going to “give the throne” to Prince Charles and Prince William. Would it be “very soon” and how would this affect “Aurwee” and Meghan once Prince William has “more authority and power”. It was interesting that “Aurwee” was called by his Christian name and the other royals always mentioned with their titles. I explained it wasn’t going to be a twosome and at the moment The Queen wants to abide by her promise to the nation that she gave in her early twenties that she would serve until she dies.

What is also fun if that during the conversation there are long, sometimes very long gaps when the interviewer and I think the director have long energetic conversations - in Japanese of course. I have no idea what they are about and wait patiently. But the best bit is seeing bits of the interview going out live. I am dubbed with Japanese and although I can’t understand a word I am saying, it makes me feel super proud.