Japan's Princess Mako marries commoner: Other royals who gave up their titles for love

Japan's Princess Mako, the niece of the emperor, married college sweetheart Kei Komuro on Tuesday after a tumultuous and long engagement. With marriage to Komuro, Mako also foregoes her royal privileges and her title. Her marriage has once again brought into focus other royals across the world who gave up their titles and were abdicated for marrying commoners. Here take a look. 

With her marriage to commoner Kei Komuro on Tuesday, Japan's Princess Mako gave up her royal title and other privileges opting for a quiet, private life in New York with her husband. 

In early 2020, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their roles as senior members of the British Royal Family. Meghan was the first commoner with African-American roots to have married into the British royal family back in 2018. The couple left the UK eventually and settled in the US and have since then have spoken out about the problems they faced while they were part of the royal family including issues related to mental health and even racism. 

King Carol II was forced to abdicate his throne twice: once for love when he was caught having an affair with a French woman in 1925, and then again for political reasons when he was forced into exile in 1940. He eventually married one of his consorts, Magda Lupescu, in 1947.

Years before Princess Mako of Japan was compelled to give up her title, her aunt, another Japanese princess was also asked to leave the imperial household. Princess Sayako married a commoner and left the royal family forever. 

Queen Elizabeth's uncle King Edward VIII is perhaps the most fampous royal who abdicated his position for his love. Edward left London to marry Wallis Simpson, an American actress and a divorcee. "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love," he had said in his official announcement.

The Dutch royal married Mable Wisse Smit in 2004 without the official blessing of the Dutch Parliament. He then abdicated his right to the throne and had his older brother predeceased him. Until his passing in 2013, Friso and his family were still considered members of the royal family but not the Dutch Royal House.