Because there was no eligible successor in the Saionji family, they reluctantly adopted Sanesuke SAIONJI who was the second son of Kanpaku (Chief Adviser to the Emperor) Fusasuke TAKATSUKASA; Consequently Sanetsune became heir to the Saionji Family.
西園寺家には相続人がいなくなったので、やむなく関白鷹司房輔の次男の西園寺実輔を養子縁組に迎えて西園寺家を相続させることとなった。