Japan's Former Princess Mako Welcomes First Child with Husband Kei Komuro After Leaving Royal Family in 2021
Japan's former Princess Mako gave birth to her first child, whom she shares with husband Kei Komuro, Japan's Imperial Household Agency announced
Mako left Japan's royal family when she married Komuro, who is a commoner, in 2021
The couple, who now live in New York City, met during a study-abroad event in college and got first engaged in 2013Japan's former Princess Mako has given birth to her first child, Japan's Imperial Household Agency confirmed on Friday, May 30.
Few details were shared by palace officials, who did not reveal the baby's gender or date of birth, but did say that both mother and child were doing well, according to reports from the Associated Press and The Japan Times.
Mako's child is the first grandchild for Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess, who also share children Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, according to The Japan Times.
Grand Master of the Crown Prince's Household Naomasa Yoshida shared in a May 30 press conference that the palace was officially announcing the arrival of Mako's child following reports that she had given birth.
"This is a matter for a person who has left the Imperial Family, and we had hoped that she would spend her time in a quiet environment," the grand master said, per The Japan Times. "We decided to make the announcement, however, in light of some media reports [about the birth]."
Mako welcomed her child with her husband Kei Komuro, her former classmate from International Christian University in Tokyo. The former princess, who is Emperor Naruhito's niece, left Japan's royal family when she married Komuro — who is a commoner — in 2021. They later moved to New York, where Komuro is a lawyer.
The couple, both 33, first met during a college study-abroad event at a restaurant in Tokyo's Shibuya district. Mako previously said the she was first attracted to her future husband's "bright smile," per The Telegraph.
In December 2013, Komuro proposed to Mako over dinner, and the couple continued their relationship while Mako completed her master's degree abroad, graduating from England's Leicester University with a degree in Art Museum and Gallery Studies in January 2016.
Komuro and Mako originally planned to wed in 2018, but delayed the ceremony in February of that year, citing "immaturity," and pushed their wedding date once more in 2020. The couple officially tied the knot on Oct. 26, 2021.
When she wed Komuro, Mako turned down a $1.3 million payout from the Japanese government, which is traditionally paid to royal women who lose their status in marriage.
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While appearing at a press event in the hours after she and Komuro submitted their marriage registration, Mako said, "I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused and I am grateful for those ... who have continued to support me," per the BBC. "For me, Kei is irreplaceable — marriage was a necessary choice for us."
Komuro shared, "I love Mako. We only get one life, and I want us to spend it with the one we love."
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