Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako welcomed Thailand’s Queen Suthida for tea at the Imperial Residence. The short meeting mixed tradition with modern diplomacy, so it is worth reading.

During tea, the royal couple and the queen talked about bilateral cooperation and the friendship between their two dynasties, according to Thai news outlet Khaosod. The conversation was informal but important for both countries.

Queen Suthida is the inaugural Women’s Global Ambassador of the International Ice Hockey Federation and was invited to Japan. She began her visit in northern Japan, watching the 2027 IIHF Women’s Asia Championship in Sapporo from Oct. 15 to 18.

At the tournament, the queen gave a medal to an athlete. When the player hesitated, the queen laughed and gave her a warm hug, as reported by Thai PBS World. She also attended the closing ceremony on Oct. 18 and the gala dinner at the International Convention Center Pamir.

The queen flew to Japan in a plane she piloted herself, which attracted wide media attention. This visit shows how a royal tea meeting can include sports diplomacy and personal moments.