Japan’s Princess Mako, new husband renting one-bedroom apartment in NYC
Japan’s Princess Mako and her new husband are preparing to move into a rented one-bedroom apartment in New York City after she was forced to give up her royal title in order to marry her commoner college sweetheart.
The 30-year-old, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of Emperor Naruhito, quietly tied the knot with Kei Komuro, 30, on Tuesday after their wedding was delayed several years following intense scrutiny.
Following their nuptials, the couple moved into a condo in Tokyo but are planning to permanently relocate to the Big Apple, according to Japanese media outlets.
It is unclear exactly where in Gotham the couple plan to rent.
Mako’s husband has a job at a law firm after sitting the New York bar exam back in July.
The former princess is in the process of securing a visa so she can also work in the US, NHK reports.
The newlyweds will be financially independent after Mako turned down a $1.23 million payment that she was entitled to upon leaving the royal family.
She is the first imperial family member since World War II to not take the payment, saying she chose not to do so because of the criticism surrounding her marriage.
The couple did not have a formal wedding ceremony or reception — and instead opted to wed by filing an official legal document.
They held a press conference shortly after during which Mako said: “For me, Kei-san is a priceless person. For us, our marriage was a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.”
Komuro responded: “I love Mako. I live only once and I want to spend it with someone I love.”
“I hope to have a warm family with Mako-san, and I will continue to do everything to support her,” he added.
The couple first met at Tokyo’s International Christian University before they announced their engagement in 2017. They had initially planned to marry the following year but it was delayed when financial issues with Komuro’s mother surfaced.
Mako’s mother-in-law had previously received money from an ex-fiance but a financial dispute later broke out over whether it was a gift or loan.
The princess developed post-traumatic stress disorder over the negative media attention surrounding her relationship, palace doctors said.
With Post wires
