Her father, Emperor Gomomozono died in the year when the Princess was born, since the Emperor had no other children, but Imperial Princess Yoshiko, the Imperial throne was succeeded by Sachinomiya Morohito (later called Emperor Kokaku), who was the sixth Prince of Kaninnomiya Imperial Prince Sukehito of the collateral line after he was welcomed (adopted) into the Imperial family.
誕生の年に父後桃園天皇が没するが、天皇には欣子内親王の他に子女がなかったため、皇位は傍系の閑院宮閑院宮典仁親王の第六皇子、祐宮師仁（のちの光格天皇）を迎えて継承された。