Japan’s Princess Ayako Loses Royal Status after Getting Married to Commoner

They say all is fair in love and war. But how far would you go for love? This question wasn’t as much as one that needed an answer as it was more of a statement for Japan’s Princess Ayako when she gave up her royal status after tying the knot with a commoner, Kei Moriya, last Monday (October 29) according to a report by Kyodo News.

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The 28-year old princess gave up her royal status after her marriage to the 32-year old employee of shipping company Nippon Yusen K.K.

 

 

Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya answer press questions after their wedding at Meiji Shrine on October 29, 2018.
?: Mainichi, Sankei pic.twitter.com/cjntWFl2kH

— Prisma (@ImperialJPNfan) October 29, 2018

Japan’s Princess Ayako Gives up Royal Status after Marrying a Commoner

Princess Ayako who was seen glowing in her traditional court clothing composed of a kimono robe and “hakama” skirt, with her hair dressed in the “osuberakashi” ancient style for noble women, proudly smiled at her husband-to-be, Moriya, who was seen dressed in a morning suit.

The jubilant couple exchanged vows at a Shinto ceremonial wedding attended by some 30 guests of notably family members.

According to the princess, she was very happy that a lot of [important] people came to their wedding and that they have wanted to become like a couple such as her mother and father. She also shared that her father, the late Prince Takamado, would have been extremely pleased at her marriage if he were still alive and noted that the top hat which the groom used had actually been her father’s.

Moriya shared that he had only wanted to support his wife firmly and hold hands as they work together and build a future full of joy, love, and smiles.

With the forfeiture of Princess Ayako’s claim to the throne, the members of the Imperial family are now down to 18, 13 of which are females.

Under the Imperial House Law, women are to lose their royal status after marrying a commoner. However, the dwindling number of members of the Imperial family has raised concerns over the stability of Imperial succession. This has also raised the issue on how to ease the burden of carrying out public duties on the remaining members.

According to the law on imperial household finance, the princess is still to receive around 107 million yen ($950,000) as a form of support from the state.