Online Desk:

Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, will join the Red Cross Society in April this year after graduating from university, reports BBC.

BBC reported on Tuesday (January 23) that Princess Aiko will handle the duty of the Red Cross along with the Imperial Family.

However, it was not announced which position Princess Aiko would be appointed to.

According to BBC, Japan has the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world. The country’s laws only allow men to ascend to the throne. As a result, the 22-year-old princess is not in the line of succession.

In a statement, Princess Aiko said that she has “always had an interest” in the Red Cross, while her new employer added that it wants “to thoroughly make preparations so that the princess can work at ease”.

The Red Cross has close ties with the Royal Family, with previous empresses serving as honorary presidents.

Princess Aiko visited the Red Cross Society with her parents in October last year to see an exhibition of Red Cross relief work following the 1923 Tokyo earthquake.

Princess Aiko is currently in her final year of study at Gakushuin University’s  Faculty of Letters, majoring in Japanese language and literature.

Japanese citizens generally held the princess in high esteem, many of whom welcomed Aiko’s new role.