Another Japanese princess is giving up her royal title to marry a commoner
The second Japanese princess in two years has announced that she is set to marry a commoner, meaning she will relinquish her title and leave the royal family.
Japan’s Imperial Household revealed that 27-year-old Princess Ayako is set to walk down the aisle with shipping firm employee, Kei Moriya, in October.
Princess Ayako, who has a master’s degree in social work, is the third daughter of Princess Hisako the late Prince Takamado, Emperor Akihito’s cousin.
The princess and her 32-year-old love, who is a graduate of Keio University in Tokyo,
were introduced by her mother, Princess Hisako, who was friends with Moriya’s late mother.
However, while it may be joyous news for the young princess and her love, it means that she will no longer be considered a member of the royal family after saying ‘I do’.
Under the Japanese ‘Imperial House Law’ she will become a commoner when she ties the knot, as it’s only believed that royal blood runs in the male line of succession.
Japan’s Princess Mako, will also lose her royal title when she marries her long-term boyfriend and commoner Kei Komuro.
The 25-year-old announced her engagement to her former university classmate in September.
Kei Komuro, who works in a law firm, actually proposed to the Princess in 2013 and while they initially claimed they would hold their wedding in November, they announced in February that they were postponing the date.
The couple claimed they needed more time to think about their future and have now pushed back their nuptials until 2020.
“We have come to realise the lack of time to make sufficient preparations for various events leading up to our marriage this autumn and our life afterward,” Princess Mako said in a statement to the media.
“We believe that we have rushed various things too much.”
If both marriages go ahead, the loss of the princesses from the royal family will mean there will only be 17 members left to pick up the official duties.
According to The Japanese Times, there is only one unmarried male left in the family – 11-year-old Prince Hisahito.
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