Japan’s Princess Mako has given up her royal status to marry her boyfriend, Kei Komuro.
Gatekeepers News reports that the couple’s marriage document was submitted by a palace official to a local office registry on Tuesday, which makes the union official, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
Mako becomes the first female member of the royal family to reject the usual rites of a royal wedding and also turned down a payment offered to royal females upon their departure from the family.
Female imperial family members who marry ‘commoners’ will forfeit their status under Japanese law.
Mako is expected to move to the United States where Komuro works as a lawyer after their marriage.
Their union has attracted heavy criticism and led to protest in Japan on Tuesday. The duo has also been likened to the well-publicised revolt of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry within the British royal family.
Mako, while with journalists on the development, apologised for any trouble brought to the people by her marriage.
“I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused and I am grateful for those who have continued to support me. For me, Kei is irreplaceable. marriage was a necessary choice for us,” the Princess said.
On his part, Komuro said: “I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love. I feel sad that Mako has been in a bad condition, mentally and physically, because of the false accusations.”
It was gathered that the couple had earlier planned on getting married in 2018 but their union received widespread disapproval.
