Queen Suthida meets Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako after a remarkable fortnight. The 48-year-old Queen flew a Gripen fighter jet solo, piloted herself to Japan and attended an ice hockey championship, months after winning SEA Games sailing gold.
Queen Suthida met Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace on Tuesday evening, following a packed week of sporting engagements. The historic royal audience came just 12 days after the 48-year-old Queen completed a solo flight in a Gripen fighter jet, becoming the first reigning queen reported to achieve the feat. Indeed, she personally piloted the royal aircraft to Japan six days later. Meanwhile, her visit to Sapporo as an international women’s ice hockey ambassador follows her gold medal triumph at the Southeast Asian Games last December. From flying fighter jets to winning sailing gold for Thailand, the Queen’s latest achievements have now culminated in her first meeting with Japan’s imperial couple on a busy trip.
Queen Suthida met Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace on Tuesday evening, 20 October. The meeting followed her participation in an international women’s ice hockey championship in Sapporo.
It also came 12 days after her historic solo flight in a Gripen fighter jet. Notably, the 48-year-old Queen won a Southeast Asian Games sailing gold medal for Thailand last December. Her Japanese visit brought together royal diplomacy, international sport and a series of aviation achievements.
The royal audience began at approximately 6.30 pm Japanese time. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako personally welcomed Queen Suthida at the entrance to their Imperial Palace residence. The three royals exchanged smiles and handshakes before entering the palace for a private tea reception.
Queen Suthida holds first talks with Japan’s imperial couple after arriving in Tokyo from Sapporo
According to Japanese and Thai reports, they conducted their conversation in English. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency confirmed that this was the Queen’s first meeting with the Japanese imperial couple.
The encounter continued decades of exchanges between Thailand’s Royal Family and Japan’s Imperial Family. Both countries maintain extensive diplomatic, economic and cultural relations.
However, no detailed account of the private discussions was immediately released. Nor were any diplomatic agreements announced following the reception. The meeting came after several days of sporting engagements by Queen Suthida in Hokkaido, northern Japan.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Queen departed the InterContinental Sapporo hotel at approximately 11.10 am local time. She then travelled by royal motorcade to New Chitose Airport before boarding a royal aircraft for Tokyo.
Upon arrival at Haneda Airport, Thailand’s embassy minister Vipawee Rangsimalaporn welcomed her alongside other diplomatic officials. Subsequently, Queen Suthida travelled to the Imperial Hotel Tokyo before attending the evening reception at the Imperial Palace.
Queen’s eight-day Japan visit centres on women’s ice hockey championship and international sporting role
The journey formed part of an official Japanese visit scheduled from 14 to 22 October. The invitation came from the president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Queen Suthida serves as the federation’s first Women’s Global Ambassador, a position she accepted in 2023.
Her principal engagement was the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Asia Championship in Sapporo. The tournament took place from 15 to 18 October at the Tsukisamu ice hockey venue.
During the competition, Queen Suthida watched matches involving international women’s teams and presented medals and trophies. Her attendance followed several years of involvement in women’s ice hockey, including appearances at major international competitions.
Earlier this year, she attended women’s ice hockey medal matches at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. In addition, she has participated directly in international ice hockey exhibition play rather than limiting her involvement to ceremonial appearances.
Queen’s ice hockey exhibition match precedes historic solo Gripen flight witnessed by King Vajiralongkorn
Previously, the Queen took part in an international exhibition match involving Thailand and China. That encounter ended in a 6–6 draw and was attended by IIHF president Luc Tardif.
Her involvement reflected her longstanding personal interest in the sport and her responsibilities as the federation’s ambassador. Accordingly, the Japanese championship continued an established programme of international sporting engagements.
Separately, the visit to Japan came just days after a significant development in the Queen’s aviation career. On 8 October, she completed her first solo flight in a Swedish-built Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter aircraft.
The flight took place at a Royal Thai Air Force base in Surat Thani. King Maha Vajiralongkorn was present to witness the achievement. Afterwards, he presented the Queen with flowers and a gold Gripen qualification patch.
The achievement was reported internationally as the first solo fighter jet flight completed by a reigning queen. It followed four months of specialised preparation involving technical instruction, simulator exercises and practical aviation training.
Four months of Gripen training followed by royal flight to Japan as Queen builds on aviation experience
Specifically, Queen Suthida studied 45 technical subjects and completed 20 simulator sorties during the programme. Her solo Gripen flight lasted approximately 41 minutes, completing the intensive training undertaken with the Royal Thai Air Force.
However, the Queen already possessed extensive aviation experience before beginning her fighter aircraft programme. She started flying instruction in 2010 and has since accumulated approximately 1,190 flying hours.
Previously, she worked as a flight attendant with Japan Airlines and Thai Airways. She subsequently obtained flying qualifications and developed experience operating civilian aircraft. Additionally, she has flown alongside King Maha Vajiralongkorn during royal journeys.
On 14 October, just six days after her Gripen flight, Queen Suthida personally piloted the royal aircraft to Japan. The aircraft departed Bangkok and landed at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. Following her arrival, she drove herself from the airport to her hotel in Sapporo. Thailand’s Public Relations Department subsequently reported the journey. The flight came shortly after she completed her solo fighter aircraft qualification.
Queen Suthida’s SEA Games gold came as navigator and strategist aboard Thailand’s racing boat
On another front, Queen Suthida’s international sporting engagements follow her success as a competitive athlete. On 18 December 2025, she helped Thailand win a sailing gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
The victory came in the mixed keelboat SSL47 competition, held in waters off Pattaya. Queen Suthida competed as navigator and strategist aboard a 14-metre racing vessel alongside nine other Thai sailors.
During the competition, she also helped steer the boat as Thailand competed against regional rivals. The opposing teams included crews representing Malaysia and Burma. Ultimately, Thailand secured the gold medal, with Queen Suthida competing as an active member of the national sailing team.
Her role was competitive rather than ceremonial. She undertook navigation and tactical responsibilities throughout the racing programme. Following the victory, King Maha Vajiralongkorn officiated at the medal ceremony.
Aviation skills help Thai sailing crew as Queen also celebrates women’s ice hockey gold at SEA Games
According to World Sailing, the Queen’s aviation knowledge contributed directly to the Thai crew’s performance. Thai sailor Noppakao Poonpat explained that her understanding of meteorology helped the team assess changing weather conditions.
In particular, she helped interpret cloud formations and anticipate shifts in wind direction during racing. These observations were relevant to navigation and tactical decisions aboard the sailing vessel.
The gold medal also recalled Thailand’s established royal sailing tradition. In 1967, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Princess Ubolratana won sailing gold medals at the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.
Nearly six decades later, Queen Suthida added another royal sporting achievement through her participation in Thailand’s national team. Moreover, her involvement at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games extended beyond sailing.
The following day, 19 December, she attended the women’s ice hockey final in Bangkok. Thailand defeated the Philippines 13–4 to secure the gold medal after dominating the competition. Queen Suthida subsequently presented medals to the victorious Thai players. The ceremony linked her international ice hockey responsibilities with Thailand’s success in the regional championship.
Queen’s ice hockey and half-marathon appearances add to her sporting record after SEA Games sailing gold
Her association with ice hockey also includes direct participation on the ice. Previously, she played in the international exhibition match involving Thailand and China. The contest finished 6–6, with IIHF president Luc Tardif among those attending. The event formed part of her wider involvement with international ice hockey and the sport’s governing federation.
Beyond ice hockey and sailing, Queen Suthida has also participated in competitive distance running. In December 2025, she completed a Bangkok half-marathon in two hours, 13 minutes and 40 seconds.
The event featured Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge, a former Olympic marathon champion. Consequently, her sporting activities during the closing weeks of 2025 included sailing, ice hockey and distance running.
The SEA Games sailing victory carried particular significance because the Queen competed directly for Thailand. She was part of the crew throughout the competition, undertaking navigation and tactical responsibilities before securing the gold medal.
Her subsequent international sporting engagements included the Winter Olympics in Italy and the women’s ice hockey championship in Japan. In parallel, her role as the IIHF’s first Women’s Global Ambassador has involved regular participation in international ice hockey events.
International ice hockey ambassador’s visit to Sapporo leads to royal audience at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace
The appointment, accepted in 2023, established her formal connection with the sport’s international governing body. Her latest appearance in Sapporo included attending championship matches and presenting awards to competitors.
The tournament was staged at the Tsukisamu ice hockey venue between 15 and 18 October. After those engagements, Queen Suthida travelled to Tokyo for Tuesday’s royal audience.
The meeting with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako came at the end of a concentrated international sporting programme. It also followed an active period of aviation training and flying.
Within 12 days, the Queen had completed a solo Gripen fighter jet flight and personally piloted an aircraft to Japan. She then attended an international women’s ice hockey competition before meeting Japan’s Emperor and Empress.
Imperial Palace meeting follows Queen’s Gripen flight and sporting successes ahead of return to Thailand
The sequence followed her Southeast Asian Games sailing gold medal approximately ten months earlier. Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Imperial Palace meeting maintained contact between the Thai and Japanese royal households.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako personally welcomed Queen Suthida before holding the private tea reception. Japan’s Imperial Household Agency confirmed that the encounter was their first meeting. No detailed public account of their discussions followed the reception.
Queen is first Thai woman to fly a Swedish Gripen fighter jet. King in Surat Thani to congratulate her
Thailand’s Queen Suthida lands in Italy for a visit in her role as an ambassador for women’s ice hockey
Queen Suthida is scheduled to conclude her official Japanese visit on Thursday, 22 October. She is expected to arrive at Don Mueang Military Airport in Bangkok at approximately 5 pm. Her return will complete an eight-day visit involving international sporting commitments in Hokkaido and a royal audience in Tokyo.
The Japanese programme follows her first solo fighter jet flight, completed less than two weeks before Tuesday’s meeting. It also comes within a year of her SEA Games sailing gold medal and Thailand’s women’s ice hockey victory.
Together, the engagements encompass international royal relations, competitive sport and military aviation. On Tuesday evening, the Queen’s latest visit reached its diplomatic highlight at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
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