Princess Yoko of Japan has been hospitalised with pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19.
The royal, 38, who is the younger daughter of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Nobuko, complained of a sore throat early last week before testing positive for the virus on Tuesday.
Her late father, who died in 2012, was the first cousin of Emperor Akihito, and although she doesn’t have royal duties, she carries out charitable work and appears with the wider family at official events.
According to Town&Country, the royal was given treatment at the Imperial Palace before being transferred to the University of Tokyo Hospital.
It is unknown if the Princess had had her Covid-19 vaccinations. The Imperial Household Agency previously stated it would work with local government and the health ministry to get vaccines, saying: ‘We will follow the government’s policy and conduct vaccinations for them based on their wishes.’
The news comes as a spate of royals across the world tested positive for the virus, including Prince Charles, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and King Felipe of Spain.
Princess Yoko of Japan, 38, has been hospitalised with pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19
In her first and only public appearance of this year, the demure Yoko took part in the annual Shinnen Shukuga-no Gi in Tokyo, a reception where the most senior members of the Imperial household ring in the new year in front of illustrious guests (pictured far right)
Princess Yoko’s case marks the first in the Japanese royal family.
The 38-year-old has kept a relatively low profile in recent years and serves as the head of Tokyo-based social welfare corporation Yuai Jujikai.
Meanwhile she is also the honorary president of Japan Universal Sound Design Association, a nonprofit organization that helps people with hearing loss.
She last appeared in public for the royal family’s traditional New Year’s ceremony in Tokyo in January.
The royal, who is the younger daughter of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, complained of a sore throat last week before testing positive for the virus on Tuesday (pictured far right, with Prince Hitachi, Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Princess Kako of Akishino, Princess Hanako of Hitachi, in 2020)
On New Year’s Day, the demure Yoko took part in the annual Shinnen Shukuga-no Gi in Tokyo, a reception where the most senior members of the Imperial household ring in the new year in front of illustrious guests.
Attendees included Naruhito’s brother, the Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino, best known as Prince Akishino, his wife Princess Kiko and their daughter and Kako, 27. Their other daughter, Mako, 30, quit royal life last year when she married her commoner university sweetheart, forcing her to renounce her title and duties.
While it is not known if Princess Yoko had received her vaccine, it was announced last year that seven other members of the royal household had been jabbed.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko received Covid-19 vaccinations last June, alongside Prince Hitachi, 85, his wife Princess Hanako, 80, Princess Nobuko, 66, and Princess Hisako, 67.
Meanwhile Emperor Naruhito received his first COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Akasaka Imperial Residence in Tokyo’s Minato Ward last July, the Imperial Household Agency announced at the time.
It comes days after Buckingham Palace refused to confirm whether the Queen, 95, had tested positive or negative for Covid after it was revealed that she met Prince Charles just two days before he tested positive for the virus.
Palace sources insisted that she was not displaying symptoms, however these usually show a few days after close contact with a Covid positive person- and usually first on tests.
The 38-year-old has kept a relatively low profile in recent years and serves as the head of Tokyo-based social welfare corporation Yuai Jujikai (pictured in 2019)
Current government guidelines say you have to isolate for five days after contact with a Covid positive person, with symptoms typically appearing three to five days after contact.
However, the Queen is understood to be triple vaccinated so will not need to self-isolate unless she tests positive.
The head of state is thought to have received her first jab in January 2021 and her second jab that March, while sources say it is believed she got her booster in October.
This is the second time Charles, who is also triple jabbed, has tested positive for coronavirus after contracting the disease in March 2020.
The news comes as a spate of royals across the world tested positive for the virus, including Prince Charles, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and King Felipe of Spain
Insiders insisted the 73-year-old was found to be positive during a test taken this morning as routine before any public engagements — which suggested he was experiencing no strong symptoms — but they declined to go into further details on his medical condition.
Meanwhile the Queen of Denmark and the king of Spain have also both tested positive for the coronavirus.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, 81, has mild COVID-19 symptoms and has isolated herself in the Copenhagen palace where she lives, the palace said.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe (pictured), 81, has mild COVID-19 symptoms and has isolated herself in the Copenhagen palace where she lives, the palace said last week
Vaccinated Margrethe tested positive for the virus on Tuesday evening and cancelled a planned vacation in Norway that was set to begin Wednesday, the royal household said.
Like Margrethe, Spain’s King Felipe VI was vaccinated against the coronavirus. The 54-year-old monarch was tested for the virus after he developed ‘mild symptoms’ of COVID-19, his royal house said.
Meanwhile, the Spanish royal household said King Felipe’s ‘overall health’ was fine and he will remain in isolation for seven days, following national health protocols.
Like Margrethe, Spain’s King Felipe VI (pictured) was vaccinated against the coronavirus. The 54-year-old monarch was tested for the virus after he developed ‘mild symptoms’ of COVID-19, his royal house said
Which members of the royal family have tested positive for Covid-19?
The Queen, Prince Harry, Princess Anne and The Duchesses of Cornwall, Cambridge and Sussex have never publicly shared results of a positive Covid test. Of the Queen’s children, grandchildren and their partners only Prince Charles, Prince William and Sir Timothy Laurence are the only that are believed to have contracted Covid-19.
Prince Charles: March 2020
In 2020, Charles was last seen with the Queen on March 9 before contracting Covid. He saw her again on March 12 – 24 hours before his doctor claims he became contagious. Her Majesty did not test postivie
The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Covid-19 the second time, after he first tested positive in March 2020.
In March 2020, Charles said he has a ‘mild’ form of the illness, after contracting it while on the Balmoral estate with his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Camilla tested negative and is without any symptoms of the virus.
The Queen and Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, had left the Scottish estate and headed to Windsor Castle. A royal source said at the time Charles’ doctor’s most conservative estimate was that the prince was contagious on March 13 – 24 hours after ‘briefly’ meeting the Queen.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘Her Majesty remains in good health. The Queen is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare’.
Prince William: April 2020
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wear face masks during a visit to Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery on September 15, 2020 in London
Prince William secretly battled coronavirus in April 2020 – days after his father Prince Charles contracted it – and was left ‘struggling to breathe’.
The Duke of Cambridge, 39, is believed to have kept his illness private so not to alarm the public which were then confronted with a spiralling number of daily deaths. The news emerged he had fought the virus in November 2020.
He caught the virus in the darkest days of the pandemic after the Prince of Wales and Boris Johnson fell ill.
At the time up to a thousand Britons were dying of Covid-19 each day and there had been more than 50,000 cases.
The Duke was treated by palace physicians and quarantined at the family home of Anmer Hall in Norfolk. His wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, did not fall ill or test positive for the virus, it is understood.
That month, William continued working and made 14 telephone and video calls despite sources revealing he was rocked by the disease.
Sir Timothy Laurence
Princess Anne and husband Sir Timothy Laurence, pictured at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Sir Timothy has contracted Covid-19
Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence tested postive for Covid in December 2021 – meaning the couple missed out on Christmas Day with the Queen
MailOnline confirmed that the 66-year-old retired Royal Navy Vice Admiral was recovering from the virus at the Gatcombe Park estate he shares with the Princess Royal.
Aides said Anne is also isolating at the estate in Gloucestershire but did not test positive.
The insider said: ‘It’s true, Covid is unfortunately on the estate. It means therefore that those in the Royal Household are having to isolate for the time being.’
Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall also live on the estate with their three children, but are believed to have remained virus free.
Peter Phillips, Anne’s son, and his ex-partner Autumn Phillips also live on the estate with their children.
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