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Japan's Princess Kiko Reported Pregnant

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 February 2006, 12:00 CST

The wife of Japanese Emperor Akihito's second son, Princess Kiko, announced she was pregnant on Tuesday, and due to give birth in September or October.

If the baby is a male, he will be third in line to the throne after Crown Prince Naruhito, 45, and Kiko's husband, Prince Akishino, 40, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako's only child is 4-year-old Princess Aiko, while Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, 39, have two daughters.

Current laws regarding the world's oldest monarchy say only a male can ascend to the throne. As there have been no males born since 1965, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is planning to submit a bill to revise the Imperial House Law and allow for a female monarch in the event no males are left in the bloodline.

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, has accused the government of rushing to revise the law, saying it would result in breaking the imperial line which academics say has been preserved for more than 2,600 years.

Source: United Press International

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