After several years of touring, when the young couple was forced to deal with ruthless gossip press and Japan's strict royalists, the marriage became the simplest imaginable.

An official from the imperial household simply went to a local government office and handed in the necessary documents on Tuesday morning, news agencies from Tokyo report.

Thus, Mako is no longer a princess, as she has chosen an unsaved husband.

- For us, marriage is a necessary choice, she explains side by side with Kei at a press conference in the afternoon.

- We must live so that we follow our hearts.

"Just a life"

Her husband adds that they hope to form a "warm family".

- You only have one life, and I want to spend it with the person I love.

They got engaged already in 2017, which led to scandalous headlines when the fiancé's mother turned out to have problems with debts.

The wedding was postponed and Kei Komuro moved to the United States to study law, which was seen as an attempt to get attention.

But when he returned, he had let his hair grow into a ponytail - a hairstyle that was judged by conservative Japanese as disrespectful.

The hair quickly became shorter, but Kei Komuro is still often described as unworthy.

Japan's royalty are expected to be perfect, and the court recently reported that Mako was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) - a serious diagnosis that is otherwise often associated with war victims.

Move across the Pacific Ocean

But now the newlyweds like British Prince Harry and his Meghan are doing this year - seeking a calmer life by moving to North America.

Mako and Kei will live in New York, and it is speculated whether the ex-princess will even start working.

In a concession to conservative Japanese, she in any case refrains from the economic base plate that princesses normally receive when they leave the royal house in this way.

It would otherwise have amounted to 140 million yen (SEK 10.5 million).

In Japan, women cannot inherit the throne.

There is a debate about changing that, but any reforms will come too late for 30-year-old Mako.

Unlike British Harry, who is still called a prince, the marriage of an unsaved man means that Mako loses his royal status.

She is not called a princess, but is simply called Mako Komuro.