Princess Mary of Denmark attends Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony in Tokyo, Japan

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has arrived in Japan for the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.

Mary, 47, joined her husband Crown Prince Frederik, 51, and a cohort of royals and dignitaries from around the world for the centuries-old ritual at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace on Tuesday afternoon.

The ceremony, which formalised the reign of the new Emperor, began when purple curtains were pulled back to reveal Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, sitting on two ornate thrones, and ended with a speech from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Guests included Britain’s Prince Charles, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (pictured centre) joined her husband Crown Prince Frederik (right) and royals including Britian’s Prince Charles (left) for the ritual enthronement ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo on Tuesday

Mary, 47, oozed glamour in a grey ball gown and complementary floral headpiece

Mary, 47, oozed glamour in a grey ball gown and complementary floral headpiece

Inside the Imperial Palace, Princess Mary oozed regal glamour in a grey ball gown and complementary floral headpiece.

The mother-of-four – who shares Prince Christian, 14, Princess Isabella, 12 and eight-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine with husband Frederik – accessorised with an ornate diamond and ruby necklace and matching earrings. 

Mary, who was born in Hobart, Tasmania, sat beside Prince Charles, who attended the event as a representative for his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Emperor Naruhito, 59, officially began his reign in May after the abdication of his father, then-Emperor Akihito, but his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne has not been formalised until now.

Notable guests included Britain's Prince Charles, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (not pictured)

 Notable guests included Britain’s Prince Charles, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (not pictured)

Emperor Naruhito (pictured during the ritual) officially began his reign in May after the abdication of his father but his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne has not been formalised until now

Emperor Naruhito (pictured during the ritual) officially began his reign in May after the abdication of his father but his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne has not been formalised until now

The ritual ceremony, which was largely conducted in silence, involved the secret presentation of an ancient sword and jewel, ancient symbols of imperial power, BBC reported.

The sword and jewel are considered to be so sacred they have never been seen in public.

Standing before the throne, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a speech which ended with the call: ‘Long live the Emperor!’ 

Amidst a sea of foreign dignitaries, Princess Mary sat beside Britain's Prince Charles who attended the enthronement as a representative for his mother Queen Elizabeth II

Amidst a sea of foreign dignitaries, Princess Mary sat beside Britain’s Prince Charles who attended the enthronement as a representative for his mother Queen Elizabeth II

Emperor Naruhito wore a rust-coloured robe as his father did for his own enthronement in 1990.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 85, wore a black tuxedo and watched the ceremony from a wheelchair.

The ceremony was plagued by heavy rain with adverse weather causing last-minute changes to the guard of honour outside the Imperial Palace, Royal Central journalist Brittani Barger tweeted from Tokyo. 

The historic occasion comes as Japan continues to reel from Typhoon Hagibis, a powerful storm which left dozens dead and decimated the country’s infrastructure earlier this month. 

Heavy rain battered the Palace as Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the throne

Heavy rain battered the Palace as Emperor Naruhito formally ascended the throne

Mary’s visit to Japan comes after a historic move by her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe, 79, placed her one step closer to becoming the first ever Australian-born queen.

Mary was made a regent last month, meaning she can perform duties as head of state when Margrethe is otherwise engaged.

The Danish Queen is gradually handing over the reins to other members of the royal family, and Frederik, his brother Prince Joachim, and the Queen’s sister Princess Benedikte are also official stand-ins for the monarch.

Mary will become Queen of Denmark when Frederik ascends to the throne, following the death or abdication of his mother.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk