Previously, not even an empress was recognized as a part of the 'Koshin' if born into a subject's family; however, due to revisions made in the Meiji Constitution, an empress and other consorts were all treated as part of the Imperial family.
また、旧来は皇后と言えども臣下の家に生まれた場合には「皇親」とは認められなかったが、この改正によって皇后・妃なども皇族として扱われるようになった。