Yoshinobu's intelligence was noted early; at first, instead of sending him to another family for adoption, Nariaki planned to keep him by his eldest son and heir, Yoshiatsu TOKUGAWA's side.
慶喜の英邁さは当時から注目されていたようで、当初は斉昭も他家へ養子には出さず、長男（嫡男）・徳川慶篤の控えとして手許に残そうと考えていた。