Refers to the heir apparent to the throne in a monarchy, especially in historical or formal contexts.
The crown prince is the one who will bear the future of the country.
Prince Shōtoku
Abbreviation of 聖徳太子 (Shōtoku Taishi), a prominent historical figure. Used mainly in historical or cultural contexts.
Hōryū-ji, which was founded by Prince Shōtoku, is registered as a World Heritage site.
The young prince was installed as crown prince at a young age.
After his older brother's death, he became the crown prince.
王太子 is used for the crown prince of a kingdom (as opposed to an empire), whereas 太子 is a broader or more classical/historical term for a crown prince in general.
From Chinese 太子 (tàizǐ), meaning 'crown prince'. The abbreviation for Prince Shōtoku comes from the historical figure 聖徳太子 (Shōtoku Taishi).