By royal degree

Princess Tsuguko, the eldest daughter of the late Prince Takamado - a cousin of the present emperor - will start her English course in October.

The 18-year-old princess will leave Tokyo for the UK on April 13 and will study until June next year on a humanities course.

It is understood she will also lodge for some of the time with families, for "homestays", firstly in Oxford, before moving to Edinburgh in July.

Ian Harkness, chairman of the Japan Society of Scotland, said he believed the move would strengthen ties between the countries.

He said: "The royal family are held in high reverence by the Japanese. The princess’s father was a cousin of the present emperor.

"We get a lot of students coming to Scotland from Japan and the first thing they ask for is a ‘homestay’ - and there are a number of people in Scotland who can provide that service.

"They do like to live in people’s homes to get a feel of the country.

"I don’t know what sort of home it will be but it will no doubt be traditional and Scottish, I guess, because that is the aim of it."

It is understood Princess Tsuguko will have police protection for the duration of her stay.

Dr Yoko Matsumoto-Sturt, a lecturer in Asian Studies at Edinburgh University, welcomed the news. "We have about 100 students studying Japanese at the university," she said.

"It is a popular course and there are many people who understand Japanese so I don’t think there will be a problem with that.

"Actually Gakushuin University, where she is, is one of our exchange partners and we have a link with them already.

"We don’t know what else she will be studying apart from English.

"The Japanese admire the royal family and I think her move will be well-publicised."

She added:"Edinburgh University is really well known in Japan and there are strong cultural links between the countries.

"I don’t know if she would like to take Japanese. She will be studying English which makes it less likely." Princess Tsuguko is the eldest of three daughters. Her father was the late Prince Takamado, seventh in line to the throne, and her mother is Princess Hisako.

The prince, who was a cousin of Emperor Akihito, died in November 2002 aged only 47.

He collapsed while receiving squash lessons at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo.

The prince was kept on life support but never regained consciousness despite doctors’ efforts to save him.

He was the third and youngest son of Prince Mikasa, 86, a brother of the late Emperor Hirohito.

Will Garton, president of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, added: "It is an international university and an international city and we welcome people of all nationalities.

"I think the ‘homestay’ programme clearly illustrates students coming from abroad often want to be part of Scottish life and experience Scottish culture.

"The university wants to attract international students and we already have a fairly large number of them at the moment."

A spokesman for the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh said: "We are pleased to hear that the princess will study at Edinburgh University and welcome the news."

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh University refused to comment on individual students.