Royalty in the News

The wife of the heir to the Japanese throne marks her 48th birthday today. Crown Princess Masako has been seen little over the years due to a stress induced mental illness.

Click here to see photos of Masako and family

But this year, she often accompanied husband Crown Prince Naruhito to the areas hit hard by the March earthquake-tsunami and also meet with evacuees. Many wondered if this was the rebirth of Masako.

Yes, says the medical team helping her with her recovery, but not so much.

The doctors said it was “ill-minded” for the media to say the Crown Princess had completely healed.

“We cannot expect a quick recovery as far as the situation is not improved,” they said.

For nearly nine years, Masako has nearly dropped out of public life altogether because of her problems. She has been taking medication and speaks to counselors.

As part of her birthday, she released a statement where she talked about the March disaster.

“I shall deeply bear in my mind feelings of people in the disaster-hit areas and continue to watch over the path to their recovery,” the Crown Princess said, adding that the disaster was “too shocking to put into words”.

Masako also talked about her only child, Princess Aiko, who turned 10 last week. “The issue of Aiko’s school life has taken up a large part of my daily life this year.”

Since last year, Aiko has been accompanied by her mother to Gakushuin school, where she experienced anxiety caused by rowdy schoolboys. But things are getting better for her. “[T]hings seem to be moving in a positive direction,” her mother said.

Source: Kyodo