The coronavirus has been affecting more and more crowned heads for the past few days… The bad news this time comes from Japan: as the magazine reported Town & Country on February 11, 2022, the Princess Yoko was recently hospitalized with pneumonia, after contracting Covid-19.
Princess Yoko (38) first complained of a sore throat, before testing positive last Tuesday. She was initially taken care of by the medical team of the imperial palace, before being admitted to the University Hospital of Tokyo. The imperial household clarified that her sister, Princess Akiko (40), with whom she recently spent time, has meanwhile tested negative. Princess Yoko’s last official appearance was on January 30, when she took part in a memorial ceremony for the late Emperor.
Yoko is the second daughter of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (who died in 2012) and Princess Nobuko Tomohito of Mikasa. His father was the cousin of Emperor Emeritus Akihito., the father of the current Emperor Naruhito. As a relatively distant member of the imperial family, Princess Yoko has no royal obligations and she devotes most of her time to charitable activities.
Royal families have been particularly affected by Covid-19 lately. In addition to Princess Yoko of Japan, the British royal family has also been under heavy surveillance since Prince Charles and his wife Camilla tested positive. At 95, Queen Elizabeth II is therefore closely watched since she saw her son two days before he was tested. Elsewhere in Europe, King Felipe of Spain, as well as Queen Margrethe of Denmark, have also isolated themselves after a positive test carried out last week.