Princess Aiko will be rubbing shoulders with likely future prime ministers and titans of industry when she attends summer school at Britain's prestigious Eton College on the outskirts of London.

The 16-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako left for England on July 22 from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

During her first solo-stay abroad, the princess will be housed in a student dormitory in the college grounds close to Windsor Castle, one of the residences of Britain's royal family.

Eton, founded in the 15th century by royal decree, is probably England's most renowned school. It has a reputation for educating generations of the aristocracy.

Its summer school program is closely tied to that of the one operated by Gakushuin Girls’ Senior High School in Tokyo that Aiko attends.

She is a granddaughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and the only child of Naruhito and Masako.

Her parents are due to become emperor and empress following Akihito's abdication on April 30, 2019.

The princess left her home in Tokyo’s Moto-Akasaka district by car around 7:40 a.m. She opened the window of the car and nodded with a smile of greeting as reporters wished her a safe trip.

Aiko is scheduled to return to Japan on Aug. 9.