Portrait of King Charles Unveiled for Britain's Armed Forces Day

Britain's King Charles poses for a picture while wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations, in this undated handout picture issued on June 29, 2024. Royal Household/Hugo Burnand/Handout via REUTERS
Britain's King Charles poses for a picture while wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations, in this undated handout picture issued on June 29, 2024. Royal Household/Hugo Burnand/Handout via REUTERS
TT

Portrait of King Charles Unveiled for Britain's Armed Forces Day

Britain's King Charles poses for a picture while wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations, in this undated handout picture issued on June 29, 2024. Royal Household/Hugo Burnand/Handout via REUTERS
Britain's King Charles poses for a picture while wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations, in this undated handout picture issued on June 29, 2024. Royal Household/Hugo Burnand/Handout via REUTERS

A new photographic portrait of King Charles wearing military uniform was released on Saturday to mark Britain's Armed Forces Day.
The photograph shows the King wearing his Field Marshal No 1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations.
The King, who is Commander-in-Chief of the armed services, returned to public-facing engagements early last month after being diagnosed with cancer in February.
The release of the photograph coincided with a video message to members of the armed services from Queen Camilla. She called them "a source of inspiration, reassurance and pride."



Crowd Control at Japan's Mount Fuji as Hiking Season Begins

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
TT

Crowd Control at Japan's Mount Fuji as Hiking Season Begins

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Mount Fuji's summer climbing season began on Monday with new crowd control measures to combat overtourism on the Japanese volcano's most popular trail.

An entry fee of 2,000 yen ($13) plus an optional donation is being charged for those taking on the Yoshida Trail, and numbers are capped at 4,000 per day, Agence France Presse reported.

Online reservations have also been introduced this year by authorities concerned about safety and environmental damage on Japan's highest mountain, AFP said.

Record tourist crowds are flocking to Japan post-pandemic, with many wanting to see or scale Mount Fuji.

The mountain is covered in snow most of the year but draws more than 220,000 visitors each July-September climbing period.

Many trudge through the night to see the sunrise from the 3,776-meter summit.

Some sleep on the trail or start fires for heat, while others attempt to complete the hike without breaks, becoming sick or injured as a result.

The once-peaceful pilgrimage site has three other main routes that will remain free to climb.

But the Yoshida Trail -- accessed from Tokyo relatively easily -- is the preferred option for most holidaymakers, with around 60 percent of climbers choosing that route.