Japanese princess hides identity to secretly study abroad

• September 22, 2015 17:22

Japan's Imperial Princess Mako, who has been likened to the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, has been quietly living in Britain for the past year.

Công chúa Mako của dòng họ Akishino. (Nguồn: independent)
Princess Mako of the Akishino family. (Source: independent)
Japan's Imperial Princess Mako, who has been likened to the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, has been quietly living in Britain for the past year.

Princess Mako of the Akishino clan, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, is currently studying for a Master's degree in art and museum studies at the University of Leicester.

The 23-year-old princess, the older sister of Prince Hisahito, third in line to the throne, rarely appears in public even when she is in her home country.

She started life as a normal student at university last September, staying in halls of residence, walking freely around campus and completing a two-month experience program at Coventry Museum.

The Japanese royal family has decided to reveal Princess Mako's presence in the UK after she completed her course and will graduate in January next year.
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The British newspaper Leicester Mercury quoted Professor Simon Knell, the princess's supervisor on the course, as saying: "She is a wonderful student. Anyone would love someone who is always polite to your ideas and at the same time puts forward their own opinions, like her. Our teacher-student relationship is very good. She is very humble, kind and likeable."

Mako đã giấu thân phận của mình khi du học ở Anh. (Nguồn: independent)
Mako hid her identity while studying abroad in England. (Source: independent)
Princess Mako’s study trip to Britain was barely mentioned in the press in her native Japan. Her identity was only revealed at a carefully prepared press conference at Leicester University, where reporters were only allowed to take pictures of the princess and not ask any questions.

​However, when a reporter suddenly asked her about her time in Leicester, Princess Mako politely bowed before replying in Japanese that it was a wonderful experience.
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The Japanese royal family has been in a crisis of succession for some time, as traditionally only male descendants of the emperor are allowed to inherit the throne. The Japanese government has considered changing this law as Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Mako's uncle, has no male heir.

However, the crisis ended in September 2006, when Princess Mako's mother, Princess Kiko, gave birth to Prince Hisahito./.

According to Vietnam+