Imperial Household Agency officials say Princess Mikasa, whose given name is Yuriko, passed away Friday morning at the age of 101. The princess was the widow of Prince Mikasa, a younger brother of the late Emperor Showa.

She was hospitalized at St Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo on March 3 after suffering a stroke and aspiration pneumonia.

She was initially treated in an ICU, but was moved to a private room about 10 days after significant recovery was seen in the movements of her right hand and leg, as well as an improvement in her pneumonia.

However, the princess was returned to the ICU for more than three weeks through early September, after showing mild pneumonia. Recently, she was recuperating in a private room.

The agency announced on Friday last week that the princess' health was in decline due to deteriorating organ functions.

She had been married to Prince Mikasa for 75 years, who died in 2016.

The princess turned 101 on June 4. She was the most advanced age for a member of the Imperial family since the Meiji era that began in the late 19th century.

A series of farewell rites and events for the late princess will be performed based on precedents for Imperial family members.

A funeral service called "Renso-no-gi" will take place at the Toshimagaoka burial ground in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on November 26.