Japanese princess gives up royal title to marry college sweetheart

The pair went against tradition.

Japan's Princess Mako is giving up her royal title as a way of finally being able to marry her college sweetheart Kei Komuro. Determined to live out a happy life with her "irreplaceable" husband, the pair have not had the easiest ride when it came to their relationship. In an unusual news conference with her new husband, Princess Mako said that "incorrect" news reports about her relationship and husband had given her sadness, stress and fear. She also revealed that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when her four year engagement was surrounded by money scandals and media exposure. "I'm aware that there are various views on our marriage. I feel very sorry for those (for) whom we have caused trouble," said Mako said. Now being referred to as Mako Komuro, she has given up her royal title by marrying the commoner as stated she needs to in Japanese law. "For us, marriage is a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts," she added. The pair married this morning after an official from the Imperial Household Agency (IHA) submitted paperwork to a local office to register their marriage. Breaking tradition, the couple avoided rituals, a ceremony and a reception similar to other royal weddings. Mako has also refused the one-off payment of around $1.3 million that is usually made to royal women who leave their family after they get married. Formally bowing to her parents, Mako grabbed her sister for an embrace after her marriage was made official. The couple announced their engagement at a news conference two months ago amid a reported financial dispute between her new mother in law and her former fiancé who claimed she had not repaid a debt of around $35,000. After the IHA failed to give an explanation, the scandal made it to the mainstream media and Komuro issued a 24 page statement and added that he would be paying the settlement.