The Prince did not have any children either with Sadako nor Tadako, it was approved by Emperor Meiji before he died, to have his half younger brother, Arisunogawa no Miya Imperial Prince Takehito as his successor, who was supposed to have established a new Miyake or have been demoted from nobility to subject according to custom.
親王は貞子・董子どちらの妃との間にも王子女に恵まれなかったため、慣例に従うなら別の宮家を創設するか臣籍降下するはずであった異母弟の有栖川宮威仁親王を、自身の後継者にすることが生前に明治天皇から許されていた。