The Princess & The Commoner

Being a princess, that is, being a member of the highest aristocracy, you enjoy all sorts of benefits, privileges and accolades which commoners dream of, but of which they are not privileged to. Every women and every men dream to be a princess or a prince.

The term prince is derived from the Latin root princeps, which means "first among equals".

If you are a princess, and have being brought up with a silver spoon in your mouth, where everything is done for you, including putting on a dress, and having the best of everything a palace will afford, would you relinquish your title as princess, lose your royal status, losing the generous palace allowances,and live a life of a commoner, paying taxes, driving your own car, shopping and carrying everything by yourself?

This is the Japanese Law.

Japanese Emperor Akihito's only daughter will formally relinquish her title as princess on Wednesday following her marriage the day before, but the Emperor father has promised that she will be welcome at the palace any time.

Former princess Sayako married Yoshiki Kuroda, a Tokyo urban planner, in a simple ceremony on Tuesday, trading life in the Imperial Palace for an ordinary apartment and official duties for housework.

Sayako, 36, has confessed that she was a bit anxious about starting a new life as a commoner, where she faces new challenges such as driving, paying taxes and shopping.

But on her wedding day, Empress Michiko gave Sayako a warm hug and reassured her saying, "You'll be fine, you'll be fine, everything's going to be OK."

Michiko, 71, who took the opposite course by becoming the first commoner to marry into the royal family, was said to have been bullied by courtiers in the early years of her marriage and has said Sayako was always a source of support at tough times.

Akihito also told his daughter, "Our family ties will not change, so please visit us from time to time."

Sayako legally became a commoner -- and gained a surname for the first time -- when her marriage was registered at her local city office on Tuesday, as is the custom in Japan.

However, her name remains on the register of the Imperial Family until notice of her wedding is formally inscribed there by an Imperial Household Agency official on Wednesday afternoon, an agency spokeswoman said.

To understand the differences in the lives opf commoners and royalties, maybe, it's good for her to read the book, The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

The book The Prince and the Pauper was about two young men who just wanted to experience what it was like to have a different life. When Tom Canty met Prince Edward of Wales, they knew that there was something weird about the other. Then they realized that they both looked exactly alike. They switched their clothes and that is where the trouble began. As you read this book, you will join Tom and Edward on their journeys in each others life. This wonderful book was brought to life marvelously by the one and only Mark Twain.

The story takes place in a country called Whales, or in a small city called England. The two main characters are Tudor and Tom. Tom was a pauper, and Tudor was a rich prince. Much time later the pauper and the prince get switched in their lifestyles and now have to live each other's life!

Eventually, all ends well, with Edward restored to the throne and Tom retaining a place in his court.