Japan's Princess Mako has formally announced her engagement to a commoner after receiving the emperor's approval.
在收到天皇准许后，日本真子公主于日前正式宣布她和一位平民订了婚。This announcement kicks off a lengthy marriage process, and it also means the princess will lose her royal status.
这一声明开启了一段漫长的婚姻程序，同时也意味着这位公主会失去自己的皇室身份。Under a controversial Japanese law female imperial family members forfeit their status upon marriage to a commoner, whereas male members do not.
在饱受争议的日本法律下，女性皇室家族成员与平民结婚就会丧失身份，而男性成员则不会。
"I was aware since my childhood that I'll leave a royal status once I marry," Princess Mako said. "While I worked to help the emperor and fulfil duties as a royal family member as much as I can, I've been cherishing my own life."
真子公主对此表示：“从小时候起我就知道，一旦结婚，我就会丧失皇室身份。但是作为一名皇室家族成员，我尽我所能的帮助天皇完成职责。我一直珍爱我的生活。”Her fiancé, Kei Komuro, is a 25-year-old law firm employee. The couple met five years ago while studying at the same university.
她的未婚夫小室圭是一名25岁的律所职员。这对夫妇是于五年前在同一所大学念书时相遇的。Princess Mako, 25, is the eldest child of Prince Fumihito, whose official title is Prince Akishino. She is pursuing a doctorate and works as a museum researcher.
25岁的真子是文仁亲王（官方头衔是秋筱宫亲王）的长女。她正在攻读博士，是一名博物馆研究员。