His father, Imperial Prince Tamehira, was a member of the unfortunate imperial family, who felt dejected after losing his mother, FUJIWARA no Anshi, who had the title of Chugu (Empress), and maternal grandfather, FUJIWARA no Morosuke, early and was forestalled by his younger brother Imperial Prince Morihira (later became Emperor Enyu), who was appointed by uncles who feared that Takaakira would control the government as a maternal relative, despite being the direct maternal younger brother to Emperor Reizei.
頼定の父為平親王は冷泉天皇のすぐ下の同母弟でありながら、母中宮藤原安子・外祖父藤原師輔を早くに失い、高明が外戚として勢威を振るうのを恐れた叔父たちによって、幼い弟守平親王（のちの円融天皇）に飛び越され、失意の日々を送った不運の皇族である。