Emperor Komei died in 1866, and though Katamori appealed over and over to resign from his position as Kyoto Shugoshoku, neither the Imperial Court nor the shogunate would approve it.
慶応2年（1866年）に孝明天皇が崩御し、容保本人は守護職辞退を何度も申し立てるが幕府も朝廷も認めなかった。