百合子さま、斂葬の儀　皇族方、首相ら参列―東京・豊島岡墓地

　１５日に１０１歳で亡くなられた三笠宮妃百合子さまの本葬に当たる「斂葬（れんそう）の儀」が２６日、東京都文京区の豊島岡墓地で営まれた。喪主で孫の彬子さまら皇族方、石破茂首相ら三権の長、ゆかりの人ら４８１人が参列。大正から令和まで四つの時代を生き、母子保健や福祉などの分野に尽力した百合子さまと最後のお別れをした。
　百合子さまのひつぎを乗せた霊車は、午前９時に赤坂御用地（港区）内の三笠宮邸を出発。車列は皇居前などを経て、午前９時半すぎに同墓地に到着し、葬場にひつぎが安置された。
　一般の告別式に当たる「葬場の儀」は午前１０時すぎから始まり、儀式をつかさどる司祭長の坊城俊在氏が、百合子さまの生涯や功績を記した祭詞を朗読した。同氏は宮中歌会始披講会会長を務めた故坊城俊周氏の次男。
　その後、慣例で参列しない天皇、皇后両陛下と、上皇ご夫妻の使者に続き、彬子さま、秋篠宮ご夫妻ら皇族方がひつぎに向かって拝礼した。
　正午ごろからは、一般の人の拝礼が行われた。（2024/11/26-12:11）

The main funeral ceremony for Japanese Princess Yuriko, great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, was held at the Toshimagaoka cemetery in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on Tuesday after she died of natural causes on Nov. 15 at the age of 101.
   The "Renso no Gi" ceremony was attended by 481 people, including Princess Akiko, Princess Yuriko's granddaughter, other Imperial Family members and the heads of the three branches of government, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
   They bid a final farewell to the late princess who devoted herself to promoting maternal and child health, and welfare.
   The hearse carrying Princess Yuriko's coffin left her residence at the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo's Minato Ward at 9 a.m. and arrived at the cemetery shortly past 9:30 a.m. after passing in front of the Imperial Palace. The coffin was then placed at a funeral hall.
   During the "Sojo no Gi" farewell service, which started shortly past 10 a.m., Toshiari Bojo, the chief priest in charge of the ceremony, read aloud the ritual words related to Princess Yuriko. He is the second son of the late Toshikane Bojo, who served as chairman of the annual "utakai hajime" New Year's poetry reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace.