It's a Prince!

Her Imperial Highness Princess Kiko of Japan has given birth by Caesarean section to a baby boy. He was born in Tokyo's Aiiku Hospital at 8.27 a.m. and weighs a healthy 7 1/2 pounds. The newborn Prince is the first male heir to be born into the Japanese Imperial Family in 40 years. He is currently 3rd in line.

The baby's birth will come as a relief to many traditionalists in Japan. There was considerable debate over the possibility--or impossibility--of the line of succession being changed to allow girls to ascend the throne. The birth of a prince will probably bring an end to the debate, for now.

His birth will also be a considerable relief to his mother, 39-year-old Princess Kiko, the wife of the Emperor's youngest son, Prince Akishino. In the years since her and her sister-in-law Princess Masako marriages the two women have come under considerable pressure for not having produced a male heir. The pressure was so great the strain took its toll on Princess Masako who suffered a break down and withdrew from public duties in 2003 due to depression. She has however recovered sufficiently to go on a family holiday to the Netherlands's with her husband Crown Prince Naruhito and their only child 4 year old Princess Aiko where they met the Dutch royal family.

Princess Kiko and Prince Akishino already have two daughters aged 14 and 11.

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