Princess sheds tiara
The week's news at a glance.
Tokyo
Princess Sayako, the only daughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito, gave up her royal status this week by marrying a commoner. Sayako, 36, married Yoshiki Kuroda, 40, in a small ceremony at a Tokyo hotel. “I look forward to a new life as a member of the Kuroda family, while treasuring in my heart the life I have led up until now with their majesties and my family,” Sayako said. Future princesses may not have to make such a sacrifice for love. The government is considering changing the law to allow women to inherit the throne and to retain royal titles, no matter whom they marry. Princes already have those rights.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The decline of the contraceptive pill
In the Spotlight Fears of the pill's side effects, stoked by social media, behind switch to fertility trackers – or no contraception at all
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Explorations Company: a Kenya safari adventure beyond the expected
The Week Recommends Experience Kenya's wild beauty on a safari that combines close wildlife encounters with conservation and community initiatives
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why has Tulip Siddiq resigned?
In Depth Economic secretary to the Treasury named in anti-corruption investigations in Bangladesh
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published