Japanese Princess Renounces Her Title to Marry a Commoner

In a real-life story that could pass for a modern Disney tale, Japan's 25-year-old Princess Mako of of Akishino is planning to get engaged to 25-year-old Kei Komuro, a law firm employee and graduate student. While she may be renouncing her royal status in order to marry Komuro, he's still a prince—by some commercial standards.

However, she is not alone as several women in her family before her have given up their royal ties in the name of love. Most recently, the princess' aunt, Sayako Kuroda, had to cut ties with the family after marrying commoner Yoshiki Kuroda in 2005.