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Is Princess Mako the next Princess Diana? They’re both fashion icons with a love of the arts – and the now Mrs Mako Komuro is even philanthropic like Britain’s late royal sweetheart

Japan’s Former Princess Mako and Britain’s Princess Diana share more in common than you probably think. Photos: Kyodo, @diana.princess.wales/Instagram
Japan’s Former Princess Mako and Britain’s Princess Diana share more in common than you probably think. Photos: Kyodo, @diana.princess.wales/Instagram
Royalty

  • Japan’s former Princess Mako renounced her title to marry Kei Komuro and move to New York – so how is her story similar to the late ‘People’s Princess’ of Wales?
  • Besides their street style, the princesses share a love of the arts – Diana studied jazz, ballet and tap and Mako is a visual arts guru interning at the Met in the Big Apple

Princess Mako isn’t your typical royal – much like Princess Diana, although their lives are somewhat different, of course.

Mako’s story went viral when news broke of her leaving behind her royal Japanese title to marry her “commoner” university sweetheart, Kei Komuro. She’s now settled in New York with her husband, yet continues to be a hot topic as fans remain intrigued with the life of the former princess.
Japan’s former princess Mako Komuro, the elder daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and her husband Kei Komuro walk to their departure gate for their flight to New York at Tokyo’s Haneda international airport, in November 2021. Photo: AFP
Japan’s former princess Mako Komuro, the elder daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and her husband Kei Komuro walk to their departure gate for their flight to New York at Tokyo’s Haneda international airport, in November 2021. Photo: AFP
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Her idolisation harks back to the days of Princess Diana who, although her time was before this age of technology, holds a high internet status to this day.

So just how similar are they?

Street style

Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, leaves Chelsea Harbour Club, London, in 1995. Photo: WireImage
Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, leaves Chelsea Harbour Club, London, in 1995. Photo: WireImage

Princess Diana was widely known as a trendsetter in fashion, particularly in streetwear. She was often seen sporting an oversized crew neck and biker shorts, which quickly became an iconic outfit of hers – and the look is still mimicked to this day. This princess clearly knew how to keep up with and set fashion movements, and we can see the same in Princess Mako today.

Kei Komuro and Princess Mako out and about in New York City. Photo: @alltheroyalsoftheworld/Instagram
Kei Komuro and Princess Mako out and about in New York City. Photo: @alltheroyalsoftheworld/Instagram

Although Princess Mako’s fashion sense is slightly different to that of Diana’s, she is also often seen wearing slightly oversized clothing – whether it’s her outerwear, maxi skirts or loose-fitting jeans, which are trending in the fashion world today.

Artists at heart