Crown Princess Kiko of Japan cannot eat 'normal meals' after contracting a mystery illness, it has been claimed.
The Imperial Household Agency said the royal mother of two has been unwell since last year, according to the national newspaper The Mainichi.
Doctors have ruled out Covid-19 as the cause of Kiko's ill health after the princess tested negative for the virus and flu.
Since the cause of Kiko's illness is still unknown, medical professionals are conducting tests to find a solution.
The princess recently attended the New Year celebrations and appeared to be in a positive mood as she beamed in family portraits released to mark the New Year.
Crown Princess Kiko of Japan cannot eat 'normal meals' due to a mysterious illness. Kiko is pictured above in a 2024 New Year's portrait with Crown Prince Akishino
During a family photo session at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko posed next to their children, Princess Kako, 29, and Prince Hisahito, 17.
The photos, taken in December last year, also included former Japanese Emperor Akihito, 90, and former Empress Michiko, 89.
Hours after Japan's Imperial Household Agency shared the cheerful photos, the city of Ishikawa was hit by an earthquake, prompting mass evacuations.
A total of 21 earthquakes of magnitude greater than 4.0 occurred shortly after 4pm local time (7am UK time), and videos shared on social media and broadcast on Japanese TV showed buildings collapsing in Suzu, a city close to the epicenter of the largest earthquake. with huge cracks in the roads.
Before the natural disaster occurred, the royal family shared several images to welcome the new year.
The royal mother of two has tested negative for Covid-19 and flu. Doctors conduct further tests to determine the cause of Kiko's illness
In one of the images, Prince Akishino and his family sit with an intricate dragon ornament to mark the coming year, which is associated with new beginnings.
The Japanese zodiac, also known as Juunishi, is divided into 12 blocks, with each block containing a group of years.
Each group is given the name of an animal, based on an ancient Chinese concept that all time shifts are based on twelve units.
In another shot, the family posed for the camera as they sat behind a wooden table painting.
Prince Akishino and his son Hisahito looked dapper in crisp black suits for the photo opportunities.
Meanwhile, Kiko looked sophisticated in a fawn belted dress, which she paired with matching pumps.
Kako added a pop of color to the portraits and donned an orange dress for the occasion.
The royal family appeared in good spirits as they posed for New Year's portraits last December alongside Crown Prince Akishino, Princess Kako (far left) and Prince Hisahito (far right)
In a minimalist setting, Japan's Emperor Naruhito, 63, Empress Masako, 60, and their daughter Princess Aiko, 22, also smiled for a photo.
In one of the images, Naruhito observed a white ornament while Masako and Aiko watched curiously.
Shortly after the footage was released, a total of 21 earthquakes of magnitude greater than 4.0 sounded shortly after 4:00 PM local time (7:00 AM UK time), and the first tsunami waves of more than a meter high began hitting the north coast of to ravage central Japan.
Videos shared on social media and broadcast on Japanese TV showed buildings in Suzu, a city close to the epicenter of the largest earthquake, collapsing, with huge cracks appearing in the roads.
Other clips showed terrified customers being thrown to the ground in department stores and flooding a train station after water pipes burst.
The country's meteorological agency said the first major waves hit Wajima port in Ishikawa Prefecture at 4:21 p.m. local time, just as darkness fell over the region, with many more expected in the coming days.