Japanese royal family news shows that Japan’s Princess Mako has finally, after a years-long engagement studded with controversy, married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro. As part of the deal she loses her royal status, but she gains a husband.
Japanese law states that female imperial family members, “forfeit their status upon marriage to a commoner although male members do not,” according to the BBC. Can you spell u-n-e-q-u-e-l?
Royal Family News: The Princess Gains a Husband
As a part of the deal, Mako did not have a royal wedding and she rejected a customary payment offered to royal females when they leave the family. As such she is the first female member of the royal family to decline both.
Her husband Komuro is a lawyer and they are expected to relocate to the US following the ceremony. Such a pairing has resulted in comparisons to a certain lopsided British couple, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. In fact Mako and her hubs have been dubbed “Japan’s Harry and Meghan” which is either an insult or a tribute—you decide.
Markle and Komuro are both commoners and have shady family controversy in common.
Royal Family News: What’s Wrong with a Ponytail?
Meghan may sympathize with her Japanese counterpart since both have been dragged in the media. What has Mako’s husband done to earn scorn? He recently returned to the country wearing—wait for it—a ponytail.
According to the BBC, “Some tabloid newspapers and social media users felt his hairstyle – seen as unconventional in Japan – was unbecoming of someone set to marry a princess.”
In a press conference on Tuesday Mako apologized, “for any trouble brought to people by her marriage.” Is this something Harry should consider doing in order to weasel his way back into the country and his family’s good graces?
Royal Family News: What’s With Marrying a Commoner?
Her apology seemed to have little effect as there was a protest that same day against the couple’s marriage.
For his part, the ponytailed non-prince said: “I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love. I feel very sad that Mako has been in a bad condition, mentally and physically, because of the false accusations.”
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Wishing them the very best in a new life elsewhere were there is no IAH or gov to tell them how to live their life.