Expected marriage to Kei Komuro would cost Mako her title under law that only applies to female members of monarchy
Princess Mako of Japan, the eldest grandchild of Emperor Akihito, will lose her royal status if she goes ahead with marrying a commoner because of a law that only applies to female members of the monarchy.
Her expected engagement to Kei Komuro, 25, has dominated television chatshows and newspaper coverage ahead of an expected official announcement in the coming weeks.
Komuro briefly met journalists on Wednesday, but dodged questions on the engagement, saying he would discuss it “when the time comes”.
But the fevered interest in the college sweethearts has been tempered by concerns over the future of the royal family, as Japan prepares for the first imperial abdication in two centuries at a time when there is a shortage of male heirs.
Mako, 25, is the eldest child of Prince Akishino, Akihito’s second son. Under the law, Akihito and his two sons were able to marry commoners, who became part of the monarchy.
The anticipated engagement has reignited the debate on whether the rule should be changed to allow women to continue in their royal roles in an attempt to increase the number of potential male heirs to the chrysanthemum throne, to which women cannot ascend.
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