Japan’s Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, married a former classmate on Tuesday after a years-long betrothal, entering the wedlock but graduating from the imperial family under laws that require females to give up their titles if they marry commoners.
Mako and Kei Komuro, both 30, announced their engagement four years ago, in a move that was initially well received in Japan.
The marriage was postponed as a result, and Komuro left Japan to study law in the United States in 2018, before returning in September.
The wedding was limited to completing the official papers required for marriage to move away from the usual ceremonies of imperial weddings, including the reception.
Mako refused the $1.3 million that she normally receives, for one time, from women of the imperial family who marry commoners and become ordinary citizens under Japanese law.
Mako appeared in television footage, wearing a simple light-colored dress and a pearl necklace, as she bid farewell to her parents and her 26-year-old sister Kaku at the entrance to their house. Although they were all wearing masks in keeping with Japan’s coronavirus protocol, her mother could be seen fighting back tears.
In the afternoon, Mako and her new husband will hold a press conference, which will also be out of the ordinary. While members of the imperial family usually answer questions submitted in advance on such occasions, the spouses will make a brief statement and provide written responses to questions instead.
Wearing a dark jacket and tie, Komuro briefly bowed to photographers who had gathered outside his home as he left in the morning but said nothing.
“Mako’s younger brother will one day become emperor, so some are of the opinion that anyone who has problems (Komuro) should not marry her,” she added.
The couple will live in New York, but Mako will be alone in Tokyo for some time after the wedding to prepare for the move, including by applying for the first passport of her life.
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