Although his younger brothers, Imperial Prince Sanehito and Imperial Prince Sukehito, were strong candidates for the Imperial succession, he passed the throne to his son Imperial Prince Taruhito, so that his younger brothers (and the nobles supporting them) would give up their hopes for the throne.
弟である実仁親王・輔仁親王が有力な皇位継承候補として存在している中、我が子である善仁親王に皇位を譲ることでこれら弟の皇位継承（およびそれを支持する貴族）を断念させる意図があった。