Japan's Princess Mako officially lost her royal status when she married her longtime partner, Kei Komuro, this week.
Now known as Mako Komuro, 30, the former member of the Japanese imperial family is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and daughter of Prince Fumihito, the Crown Prince of Japan.
The union, which has split public opinion, was delayed for more than three years because of a financial dispute involving her new mother-in-law. However, her father Prince Fumihito said of their marriage: "If that is what they really want, then I think that is something I need to respect as a parent."
Princess Mako also declined the 150 million yen ($1.35 million) she is entitled to on leaving the imperial family, palace officials said.
However, Princess Mako is certainly not the first royal to marry a commoner.
Here, we round up high-profile international royals who have married models, personal trainers, athletes, journalists and actors, and chart the controversy the courtships have provoked.
Sweden's Prince Carl Philip married Sofia Hellqvist
On June 13, 2015, Prince Carl Philip, the Duke of Varmland, 42, married Sofia Hellqvist, 36, a former glamour model and reality television contestant.
The pair met in 2009 at a nightclub in Bastad, southern Sweden.
Hellqvist was not immediately accepted by the Swedish public.
“From the beginning, there was a struggle for Sofia to be accepted,” says Margareta Gotthardsson, a Swedish royal reporter. “She has told the press that she and the prince tried to fall out of love with each other since they knew that it would be a struggle for them when her background was revealed.”
Carl Philip told Swedish TV that she was accepted by his sisters, Crown Princess Victoria, 37, and Princess Madeleine, 32, and parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
“My parents and my sisters were curious about her, open, and welcomed her with a big hug,” he said in 2015, adding she was “hung out to dry in a bullying type of way” by the press.
The couple are now parents to Prince Alexander, 5, Prince Gabriel, 4, and Prince Julian, 7 months.
Spain's King Felipe VI married Letizia Ortiz
Spain's then-Crown Prince Felipe, now aged 53, met journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, now 49, at a dinner party in 2002. Fast-forward 19 years, they are married, and known as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia since the June 2014 abdication of King Juan Carlos I.
Not only was Queen Letizia a commoner, she was also a divorcee, a divisive detail in Catholic Spain. She was previously married to Alonso Guerrero Perez, a Spanish writer and a high school literature teacher, until 1999.
Felipe and Letizia announced their engagement on November 1, 2003, and went on to marry on May 22, 2004.
The 2015 book The Court of Felipe VI speculates that she wasn't immediately accepted by her in-laws. According to the book, by Daniel Forcada and Alberto Lardies, King Juan Carlos's friends referred to her as "the maid" and, at the time, he is said to have thought his son marrying a journalist was “the worst thing to happen” to the Spanish royals. The couple now have an approval rating of more than 60 per cent in Spain and are parents to Princess Leonor, 15, and Infanta Sofia, 14.
Monaco's Prince Albert II married Charlene Wittstock
Prince Albert II, 63, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, head of the House of Grimaldi and son of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, 43, in 2011.
The pair met in 2000, during a swimming meet in Monaco, but didn't make their debut as a couple until the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Their engagement was announced by the palace in June 2010, with a wedding scheduled for July 8 and 9, 2011. However, it was moved to July 1 and 2 to accommodate a meeting with the International Olympic Committee.
The couple are now parents to twins, Princess Gabriella and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, 6.
Britain's Prince Harry married Meghan Markle
One of the most high-profile royal weddings of the last decade has to be Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan Markle's. The British royal married American Suits actress Markle, 40, on May 19, 2018, six months after they announced their engagement, on November 27, 2017. Following their wedding, they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The couple have since stepped down as senior royals, announcing their plans to leave in January 2020.
They have spoken to Oprah Winfrey in a television interview about the duchess's experience as a member of the British royal family.
"In those months when I was pregnant, all around the same time ... So we have in tandem the conversation of, he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. And also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born," Markle said, in the March interview.
"What? Who is having that conversation with you?" Winfrey asked. "There's a conversation with you ...? Hold up. There's a conversation?"
"There are several conversations ... with Harry," Meghan replied.
The couple now claim to be financially independent of the royals. In March, it was announced that Prince Harry has taken on a job at the Silicon Valley coaching and mental health firm BetterUp, a role that he hopes "creates impact in people's lives".
Denmark's Prince Frederik married Mary Donaldson
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, 53, married Australian marketing consultant Mary Donaldson, 49, on May 14, 2004, after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, gave her permission in October 2003.
The couple met while Prince Frederik was in Australia for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
They now have four children, Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 14, and twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 10.
Prince Frederik is the heir to the Danish throne, the eldest son of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik.
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby
On August 25, 2001, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, 48, married single mother Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby, 48, with Denmark's Prince Frederik as his best man.
At the time, many Norwegians disapproved of their marriage, because Mette-Marit was a single mother, to a son born out of wedlock, and because of her participation in Oslo's rave scene during what she described as her “youth rebellion”.
Speaking following their engagement, she said: "Before, I used to love shopping, but now it's just stressful. Sure, buying clothes is fantastic for most girls, but not so great for me. What has effectively happened is that all of a sudden I need to have a good wardrobe for my new role in life. And I certainly didn't have many ball gowns before I met Haakon."
Prince Haakon is the heir to the Norwegian throne and the only son of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
The couple have two children together, Princess Ingrid, 17, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 15, and Prince Haakon is stepfather to Marius Borg Hoiby, 24, Princess Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship.
Netherland's King Willem-Alexander married Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti
Then-Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, 54, met Argentinian marketing manager Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, 50, at the Seville Spring Fair in 1999. The couple have said that he did not introduce himself as a royal or a prince, but as Alexander. Maxima thought he was joking when he later told her he was the heir apparent to the Dutch throne.
Three years later, the couple married on February 2, 2002, and they became King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima following the abdication of Queen Beatrix in 2013.
Their relationship was not without controversy, primarily down to the role her father, Argentine politician Jorge Zorreguieta, had in the military dictatorship following the 1976 Argentine coup d'etat of General Jorge Rafael Videla. Zorreguieta claimed not to know about the deaths in the regime and before the couple's wedding, an inquiry into his involvement was conducted in the Netherlands. It was concluded that he was not directly involved with the atrocities but was "almost certainly aware of them". It was decided that Zorreguieta should not attend his daughter's wedding.
The couple now have three daughters, Princesses Catharina-Amalia, 17, Alexia, 16, and Ariane, 14.
Britain's Prince William married Kate Middleton
They are now best known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but Kate Middleton, 39, was not born to a British royal or aristocratic family.
The couple met at the University of St Andrews, where they were both studying, and after graduating in 2005, Middleton had a couple of part-time jobs, including a 12-month stint as an accessory buyer for high street brand Jigsaw. Her father, Michael Middleton, was a pilot for British Airways and runs Party Pieces with his wife, Carole Middleton.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton said of adjusting to royal life, "It's not like there's a school for princesses where you sit there and go through the procedures from A to Z. You learn it at the knee. You learn it from experience.
"Even Catherine Middleton, the point I'd make about her is that yes, she had the support of her family, and yes, she was British and knew what was expected, but nobody can prepare you for the level of intensity and the level of interest in you."
The couple married on April 29, 2011, and are now parents to Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3. Prince William is second in line to the British throne after his father, Prince Charles.
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling
Another Swedish royal to have married a commoner is Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, 44, who married Daniel Westling, 48.
A former personal trainer and gym owner, Westling gave up his business Balance Training in November 2009, but remained an equity partner.
Before they married, it was confirmed that Westling had moved into a one-bedroom apartment on the grounds of Drottningholm Palace in July 2008. The couple announced their engagement in February 2009 and went on to marry at Stockholm Cathedral on June 19, 2010.
As Princess Victoria is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne, Westling became Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland, after their wedding. He took the surname of the Swedish royal family, Bernadotte, which makes his legal name Olof Daniel Westling Bernadotte.
The couple are parents to Princess Estelle, 9, and Prince Oscar, 5.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lupita%20Nyong'o%2C%20Joseph%20Quinn%2C%20Djimon%20Hounsou%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMichael%20Sarnoski%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Results
6.30pm Madjani Stakes Rated Conditions (PA) I Dh160,000 I 1,900m I Winner: Mawahib, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm Maiden Dh150,000 I 1,400m I Winner One Season, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Maiden Dh150,000 I 2,000m I Winner Street Of Dreams, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.15pm Dubai Creek Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,600m I Winner Heavy Metal, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm The Entisar Listed I Dh250,000 I 2,000m I Winner Etijaah, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
9.25pm The Garhoud Listed I Dh250,000 I 1,200m I Winner Muarrab, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
10pm Handicap I Dh160,000 I 1,600m I Winner Sea Skimmer, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
