On Tuesday Japanese Princess Mako walked away from her royal heritage. And she married a commoner, Kei Komuro. There were none of the traditional celebrations of a wedding to celebrate the marriage.
The thirty-year-old Mako left the palace wearing a pale blue dress and holding a bouquet. Outside the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo, she bowed to her parents, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. And then she hugged her sister Princess Kako.
The marriage document was submitted by an official from the palace on Tuesday morning. It was certified by the Imperial Household Agency.
The couple has been asking for the right to marry for three years. But there was strong opposition within the royal family and some of the Japanese media.
Japanese Princess Mako declines royal family payment
Mako had refused to take the 140 million yen ($1.23 million dollars) to which she was legally entitled. The legacy payment was supposed to be given for leaving the imperial family and giving up her title.
Mako’s loss of royal status was required by law, which allows only male succession.
