It’s become pretty clear over the last few years that Netflix knows us better than we know ourselves. So the fact that the streaming service is awash with films like A Christmas Prince and its many spin offs means that we’re in the mood for a royal love story. And this one is pretty special.
Move over Kate and William, Eugenie and Jack and Meghan and Harry – this princess’ story puts them all to shame. Japan's Princess Ayako of Takamado got married to non-royal Kei Moriya on Monday in front of a crowd of 1000 in Tokyo, wearing a beautiful kimono embroidered with flowers and green leaves.
And by doing so she forfeited her royal title, status and allowance.
According to Japan’s imperial law, women of the royal family who marry partners without royal status or an aristocratic family, automatically lose their title and everything that comes with it. This isn’t the case for male members of the royal family.
Princess Ayako will receive a lump sum of £745,000 from the Japanese government for living expenses, according to a report by CNN.
‘I am awed by how blessed I am,’ said Ayako after her wedding. ‘I will leave the imperial family today, but I will remain unchanged in my support for his majesty and her majesty,’ she added.
Her new husband Kei Moriya, who works for a shipping company, told reporters; ‘I would like to support her firmly and, hand in hand, build a happy family with lots of laughter.’
Princess Ayako is the daughter of Princess Hisako and the late Prince Takamodo, a cousin of the current Emperor of Japan, Emperor Akihito.
She is now known as Ayako Moriya, interestingly her sister Noriko Senge is also a former princess, having married non-royal Kunimaro Senge in October 2014. We'll be waiting patiently for the Netflix adaptation of this love story.