The head of the Crown Prince's Household said Wednesday that he takes seriously Crown Prince Naruhito's recently stated dissatisfaction with the environment surrounding his wife, Crown Princess Masako.

The Crown Prince left by himself earlier in the day on a 12-day European tour to attend royal weddings in Denmark and Spain and pay a goodwill visit to Portugal.

Earlier this week, the Crown Prince told reporters there were "moves to reject (the Crown Princess' past) career (as a diplomat) and her personality."

His remarks were taken as tacit criticism of the environment that has forced his wife to withdraw from official duties since December due to poor health.

Hideki Hayashida, grand master of the Crown Prince's Household, told a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he took the comments seriously "as an indication of the couple's deep pain."

But he said he did not know what the prince meant when he referred to moves to stifle the princess' personality.

He said household staff will make an effort to review the couple's official duties, including trips overseas, to be more in line with their wishes.

Hayashida said he feels sorry the Crown Princess could not accompany her husband to Europe. He said things might have turned out differently had more appropriate measures been taken, such as allowing an earlier start to her convalescence.