Tokyo: Prince William is greeted by crowds for the first day of his Far East royal tour

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, was given a warm, though wet, welcome in Tokyo on 26 February as hundreds of people, including Union Jack flag-waving children and a brass band, gathered at the Hama Rikyu Gardens for the occasion.

However, some were a bit disappointed that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, could not make it to Japan.

The Prince's wife was not travelling with her husband this time for the sake of their unborn second child. Their son Prince George is also staying home.

William, accompanied by Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe, also walked through the ancient gardens that were once the private villa of a feudal lord until the 19th century.

Masuzoe invited the Prince to participate in a traditional tea ceremony where he was given an antique tea bowl to drink out of.

"I don't want to drop it," the Prince could be heard saying as he held the bowl in his hands.