Princess Mako is often compared to as the Kate Middleton of Japan. She is very popular and well-known to the Japanese thus, she has been secretly studying at the University of Leicester in England and has successfully blended in with the students for almost a year.
No one from the school knew about her royal background except for those from her home country who easily recognized her.
She lived as a normal college student, staying in the dorm alone and walking freely around the campus.
The Imperial House of Japan made the announcement of the princess' studies after she had completed her masters during a press conference at the university.
The 23-year-old has successfully completed all her classes and her final coursework. She is set to graduate from the English University with Masters in Art Museum and Gallery Studies early next year.
"It was a wonderful experience," Mako remarked in Japanese, while bowing politely in keeping with Japanese tradition.
Her Professor Simon Knell from the University admired Mako and said: "She's been like any other student. She's very polite, very enthusiastic, very generous and she's been a delight to teach."
Dr Suzanne Macleod, head of the school of museum studies said: "We have a strong connection to the cultural profession in Japan with many students graduating from our school to take up posts in museums and galleries there, and so it felt very natural that Mako should come and follow her interests with us. She has been a pleasure to teach, has worked incredibly hard and should be very proud of her achievements."
The President and vice chancellor of the said University, Professor Paul Boyle, said: “We are delighted that Princess Mako chose to study with us and trust that she had a wonderful time in Leicester.
“We will be proud to count her among our alumni and hope that she will continue to engage with our university in the future.”
Princess Mako of Akishino is the first born granddaughter of the reigning Emperor Akihito's, is an “immensely popular and completely powerless" monarch of Japan.
