For actions that disgraced their court ranks or for a lack of loyalty towards the Imperial household, members of the Imperial family were given a reprimand by way of an Imperial statement, and for egregious cases, there were possibilities of the suspension or deprivation of their Imperial privileges, or even demotions to the status of a subject (Article 52 of the former Imperial House Act and Article 4 of the Supplement to the Imperial House Act, February 11, 1907).
皇族が品位を辱める行いをしたり、皇室に対して忠順を欠くときは勅旨を以って懲戒を受け、重い場合は皇族特権の停止、剥奪を受け、臣籍に降されることもあることになっていた（旧皇室典範52条・明治40年-1907年-2月11日皇室典範増補4条）。