TOKYO — A Japanese princess who gave up her royal status to marry her commoner college sweetheart arrived in New York on Sunday, as the couple pursued happiness as newlyweds and left behind a nation that has criticized their romance.
Such views were accentuated in the public's reaction to the marriage. Some Japanese feel they have a say in such matters because taxpayer money supports the imperial family system. Mako is the niece of Emperor Naruhito, who also married a commoner, Masako. Masako often suffered mentally in the cloistered, regulated life of the imperial family. The negative media coverage surrounding Mako's marriage gave her what palace doctors described last month as a form of traumatic stress disorder.Former Emperor Akihito, the father of the current emperor, was the first member of the imperial family to marry a commoner.
Mako is the daughter of the emperor’s younger brother, and her 15-year-old brother is expected to eventually be emperor.
I hope the couple becomes best friends with Harry and Meghan. Congratulations; you both are brave!...and your fortune will be many because I think you both are like Harry and Meghan, 'royal' hearts and are all about serving mankind!
How do I opt out of this particular narrative?