The story of Princess Mary of Denmark is one that would make even the hardest of ogres smile for the pure romantisicm of it all. The story of a prince finding love in another country and then taking her back to be his princess despite her being a commoner.
Is the other side of the coin valid? Most people will have heard of the story of Edward VIII who gave up the throne of England to marry Lady Wallis-Simpson. A similar story is being played in Japan right now.
The only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the princess will marry Yoshiki Kuroda, a Tokyo city official, in a grand ceremony next month. When that happens, the 36-year-old will lose her royal name, Norinomiya; become plain Mrs Kuroda and forfeit her residence in the imperial palace and her place on the civil list.
Under the imperial system, Princess Sayako is considered the emperor's daughter while single. Once married, she joins the Kuroda family and her children will be outside the line of succession.
Life beyond the palace moat may be something of a shock. Her fiance, 40, is believed to earn about ¥7millon a year as a town planner, an average salary in Tokyo (A$81,000). Having said this, it is customary in Japan for the wife to control the family purse, although Princess Sayako has never had to worry about money.The Japanese government has announced a one-off gift of ¥150million (A$1.7m) to ease her passage into her new ordinary life; this will help buy a modest flat at best.
Beyond that, she will have to adapt to a very different life. The Japanese royals are surrounded by servants and the food they eat comes mostly from their own farm, where Jersey cows supply them with milk and the vegetables are organically grown.
Empress Michiko, who was born a commoner, is reported to be spending these last weeks coaching her daughter. She ensured that Princess Sayako had her own kitchen from an early age, where she learned to cook using everyday ingredients. However, the princess was reported to have asked a friend how to shop in a supermarket and wondered how one carried all the food.
She may be the last princess to become a commoner. Japan is moving towards allowing a woman to ascend the throne and an advisory panel said it was unfair to remove women from the royal house on marrying.
At the moment it is rumoured that Sayako will be given a job in a very secure position indeed. In line with her dropping out of royalty, Japan Post have decided to give her a management position. It means that there may yet be another reason for that royal warrant on mail vans.
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