In February of the following year, when Emperor Meiji ascended the throne, Nariyuki remained Sessho participating in affairs of State, but the pro-Imperial Rule Restoration faction gradually began to regain power around that time.
翌慶応3年正月、明治天皇が践祚すると、引きつづき摂政に任ぜられ、国政に当たったが、この頃より次第に王政復古派が復権。