Princess Kiko prepares for birth
Princess Kiko already has two daughters
Japan's Princess Kiko will go into hospital on Wednesday to prepare for the birth of her third child, the imperial household has announced.
The 39-year-old wife of the emperor's second son is due to give birth by caesarean section in early September.
The pregnancy is attracting enormous attention from the Japanese public, many of whom are hoping for a boy.
Japan's Princess Kiko will go into hospital on Wednesday to prepare for the birth of her third child, the imperial household has announced.
The 39-year-old wife of the emperor's second son is due to give birth by caesarean section in early September.
The pregnancy is attracting enormous attention from the Japanese public, many of whom are hoping for a boy.
posted by dion at 06:37
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Current law allows only males to ascend the throne, but the emperor's children have yet to produce a male heir.
SUCCESSION PRESSURES
Family tree
Currently only males can ascend the Japanese throne
Emperor Akihito has two sons, Naruhito and Akishino
If Naruhito died without a male heir, Akishino succeeds
His wife, Kiko, is now pregnant
Princess Sayako married a commoner so her children cannot ascend throne
End of royal reform?
Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Princess Masako, have a daughter, Aiko. The Emperor's third child, Princess Sayako, married a commoner and so her children would not be able to ascend the throne.
Princess Kiko has suffered complications in her pregnancy, but doctors say both she and her unborn child are doing well.
The imperial household said in a statement that the princess had been resting at home, but would now go into hospital to "ward against the possibility of premature bleeding and to prepare for delivery".
"The princess's pregnancy is progressing well and the baby is developing normally," the statement added.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4794601.stm
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