From little emperor’s daughter to adult princess!
Party at the Imperial Palace of Japan today! That’s where Princess Aiko celebrates her 22nd birthday. Although she is the only daughter of the current emperor, Naruhito, and his wife, Empress Masako, a place on the throne is not in the cards for the young emperor’s daughter.
No heir apparent
Time flies, and little Aiko, Princess Toshi, below only six months old, is already blowing out 22 candles today. A special day for the daughter of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako!
Although she is the eldest and only child of the current emperor, Japanese law prohibits her from taking over the imperial baton later. This succession has been discussed for years. Because a woman on the throne is something that even the most conservative court has to accept in the 21st century, right? However, after a huge debate, it was decided that it would only remain with male heirs to the throne. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) for Princess Aiko, who now has no future ahead of her as empress.
Royal duties
However, that does not mean that there is no glamor at all for Aiko. The young princess celebrated her coming of age two years ago with a ceremony and a borrowed tiara. As the Emperor’s daughter, she also has plenty of formal duties and charities to attend to, and that means that she can occasionally show herself in her imperial best as a member of the Imperial House. Well: with a succession crisis and an aunt and niece who have left the palace for love, someone has to smile, bow and wave kindly for the audience.
In addition to official ceremonies and tiara moments in the palace, Princess Aiko also has a ‘normal’ student life. Last spring, she started the final year of studying Japanese literature at Gakushuin University.
Aiko also learns English and Spanish. It is always useful to appear internationally versed in your royal duties. We’re guessing that our princesses don’t understand a word of Japanese and that Aiko doesn’t know any Dutch, but the four princesses will still be able to chat quite a bit in Spanish.
During a photo session in 2006, it certainly seemed that Aiko and Amalia were getting along well. Look at those hands!
Lonely princess
Aiko may now have found her place at the Arts faculty, but her childhood was certainly not easy. From the age of eight, she was even homeschooled for a while because she was bullied so much by the boys in her class.
Fortunately, it now seems that the highness (who, according to the Japanese court, loved poetry and calligraphy from an early age) has completely found her niche as a literature student. Now we especially hope that the princess can show herself again somewhere soon in full regalia!
Source: Blauw Bloed, The Court Jeweler, All Things Amalia, Glamial archive | Image: BrunoPress
