Society

Japan's Princess Mako to give up one-off payment worth more than $1m in controversial marriage

Sep 26 (straitstimes.com) - Japan's Princess Mako is set to forgo a one-off million-dollar payment for giving up her royal status to wed a college classmate, media said on Saturday (Sept 25), clearing the way for a marriage delayed for years by controversy over her fiance.

The 29-year-old grand-daughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and her former college classmate, Mr Kei Komuro, announced their engagement in 2017.

But the marriage was put off after reports of a financial dispute between Mr Komuro's mother and her former fiance.

The government is set to agree that the princess forgo the payment, worth up to 150 million yen (S$1.83 million) for royals giving up their status to marry commoners, amid public criticism over her fiance, public broadcaster NHK and others said.

NHK said the wedding date may be announced in October.

Officials of the Imperial Household Agency were not immediately available to comment.

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