Moreover, at that time it was considered reasonable for Atenomiya (Prince Ate) to succeed as a court noble (princely house), doing so in the future as the adopted Crown Prince; however, knowing the background of Atenomiya, Prince Ate's mother was a younger cousin of Emperor Gokomyo's maternal side, and all the potential princes were either to succeed the court noble (princely house) or become priests and enter the temples, but Atenomiya (Prince Ate) was the only prince who had no planned future among the male members of the Imperial Family.
また、高貴宮の生母が後光明天皇の母方の従妹であることや当時目ぼしい親王が全て宮家を継承するか寺院に入ってしまったために唯一将来が定まっていなかった男子皇族が高貴宮以外にいなかった事から、高貴宮が養嗣子として将来の皇位継承に備えるのが当時としては一番妥当な判断であったと考えられる。