After her half younger brother, Imperial Prince Katsuranomiya Misahito died on February 11, 1863, since there was no one to succeed to the head of the Katsuranomiya family, Imperial Princess Katsuranomiya Sumiko succeeded to become the twelfth family head of the Katsuranomiya family.
文久2年12月23日（1863年2月11日）、異母弟・桂宮節仁親王の没後空主となっていた桂宮家を継承し、第12代桂宮となる。