Sick Princess Aiko Of Japan Misses Own Seventh Birthday Bash

Tokyo, Japan (BANG) - Japan's Princess Aiko missed out on her seventh birthday party this week because she caught a cold.

The young royal - the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako - was due to celebrate at a palace party on Monday, but the ceremony was canceled after the princess' temperature rose above 38C. She will apparently need several days to recover.

A photograph of Aiko with her family was released to mark the special day. The image shows the princess wearing identical dress to her mother - dark trousers and pale blue roll-neck jumper and cardigan - and walking the family dogs.

Last week, the young royal's uncle Prince Akishino celebrated his 43rd birthday.

The royal revealed how he and his daughters - Princess Mako, 17, and 13-year-old Princess Kako - often go for walks with Aiko and her family.

He said: "When I take a walk with my daughters in the Imperial garden, they sometimes play with Naruhito's daughter Princess Aiko."