Japan prince says princess' recovery will take time

TOKYO, July 6 (Reuters) Japan's Crown Prince said today that it would still take some time for his wife to recover fully from a stress-induced mental illness, and asked the Japanese people to watch over her with warmness.

Princess Masako, a Harvard-educated former diplomat, has been unable to perform her royal duties fully for more than three years due to the illness that many royal watchers say was brought on by the stress of adapting to the rigid palace life.

Speaking to reporters ahead of next week's visit to Mongolia, the 47-year-old heir to one of the world's oldest monarchies said Masako was recovering, but not enough to allow her to accompany him on the week-long trip.

''More time is needed before she is able to visit a foreign country,'' the prince told a news conference held at his palace in central Tokyo.

''She is grateful for all your expectations, but I would like you to watch over her with warmness, over a long time.'' Masako, 43, had shown willingness to act as a ''royal envoy'', making use of her diplomatic skills, but court officials limited her travels, which analysts say also was behind her illness.

''We are eager to consider it,'' Naruhito said about future travel abroad, adding that it would promote better ties with other nations.

During the news conference, where two of the three prepared questions were about Masako's condition, Naruhito's face lit up with joy when a reporter asked him about 5-year-old Princess Aiko, the couple's only child.

Aiko is said to be an avid fan of sumo wrestling, the Japanese national sport, where two Mongolian wrestlers currently reign as grand champions.

''I told Aiko that I'd be away next week, and going to the country of Asashoryu and Hakuho,'' the prince said, referring to the Mongolian champions.

''She seemed really interested,'' he added, smiling.

REUTERS GT RK1635