The Japanese Crown Prince and Princess could be making their first official visit together since 2002, at the British Royal Wedding.

The British royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton continues to grab headlines worldwide as the Imperial Household Agency in Japan announces the intention of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako to attend.

The royal household in Britain extended an invitation to the wedding on April 29 at Westminster Abbey to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Queen's request last week, according to Kyodo News.

Sales of souvenirs are expected to hit the roof in the United Kingdom this year.

Busy schedules

The Emperor and Empress were said to have busy domestic schedules so will not be able to attend. April 29 also happens to be "Showa Day," a national holiday in Japan honoring the birthday of the Shōwa Emperor (Hirohito) -- the previous reigning Emperor from 1926 to 1989 who oversaw one of Japan's most turbulent periods of history.

The Imperial Household Agency has therefore announced that the Crown Prince and Princess intend to attend, health permitting.

Crown Princess Masako, 47, has been undergoing much publicized treatment for a stress-induced illness, which has meant she and her husband haven't made an official overseas visit since 2002, when they visited Australia and New Zealand.

Heir apparent Crown Prince Naruhito, the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, has attended weddings alone since 2004, in Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Brunei.

Public appearances

Last year the pair were spotted on a rare appearance in public with their only daughter Princess Aiko to celebrate Sports Day.

Princess Aiko had been the subject of reports that she was being bullied at school and missing classes, but was seen smiling and dancing while her father took photos.

Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako greet well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2, 2011 for the emperor's annual New Year's greetings.

Britain's Prince William, the second in line to the throne, announced his engagement to Kate Middleton in November after a seven-year romance that began at university.

The wedding is set to be Britain's biggest royal wedding since William's parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, married in 1981.

April 29 has been made a public holiday throughout the kingdom.

Robert Michael Poole is CNNGo’s Tokyo City editor.

Read more about Robert Michael Poole