TOKYO, Feb. 6 -- Britain's Princess Diana jetted into Tokyo Monday aboard a Virgin Atlantic Airways plane dubbed 'Dragon Lady' for a four-day visit that marks her formal return to British royal duties. The princess, dressed for spring in a pink blazer and skirt, and a pearl necklace, was greeted by British and Japanese officials at Tokyo's Narita Airport.
Her working visit on behalf of the British Red Cross is scheduled to take her to a children's hospital and a home for the elderly in Tokyo. She also plans to lay a wreath to British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in World War II and meet with Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. A visit to Japan's earthquake-ravaged city of Kobe has been ruled out due to logistical problems. However, British officials in London said Diana would do something in Tokyo to recognize the victims of the Jan. 17 disaster that killed more than 5,000 people and left some 300,000 homeless. Following her highly publicized falling out with Britain's Prince Charles, Diana has been busy creating a fresh role as patron of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the British Red Cross. Monday's arrival marked her third trip to Japan and her first official overseas trip since she announced in late 1993 that she would drastically curtail her official duties. She last traveled to Japan in November 1990 for an enthronement ceremony for Emperor Akihito.
