Skip to main content

Article highlights:

  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shocked fans around the world when they stepped down as senior royals
  • Reason Japanese royal fans are calling the Sussexes “rude”
  • Japan’s Imperial family’s history also goes back thousands of years
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle laying a wreath at the National War Memorial
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in 2018 | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

People around the world are fascinated with the British royals

For many years people around the world have been fascinated with the British royal family. There are several reasons for that from the intrigue of Princess Diana to glamourous royal weddings to the adorable royal children to wanting to believe princes and princesses really do live happily ever after. But several books, documentaries, and some who lived behind palace walls have revealed that royal life isn’t a fairy tale.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised fans everywhere when they announced that they were stepping down as senior royals. The duke and duchess continued to shock the public when they did a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey in which they described instances that sounded more like a nightmare than a fairy tale.

Following that interview, Harry made more statements bashing his family and that has appalled many of his Japanese fans.

Oprah Winfrey sitting across from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as she interviews them for CBS special
Oprah Winfrey sitting across from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as she interviews them for CBS special | Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images

The reason Japanese fans find the Sussexes behavior so ‘rude’

Royal biographer and author Angela Levin revealed that those who live in Japan are particularly interested in Meghan and Harry.

“Japan is fascinated by [the British] royal family,” Levin wrote in a Substack newsletter (per Express). “Every few weeks I am asked by one of their TV channels to update them on what is happening in the U.K. Their key interest at the moment is Harry and Meghan and who can blame them.”

Levin added that Japanese residents who follow the Sussexes closely are puzzled by their behavior because it’s something that wouldn’t happen in their country. “They can’t quite believe their behavior towards the senior royals is so, well, rude,” she said. “No one would behave like that to their royal family, they tell me.”

Who are the members of Japan’s imperial family?

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako smile and wave as they depart Akasaka Palace for the court banquet at the Imperial Palace
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako smile and wave as they depart Akasaka Palace for the court banquet at the Imperial Palace | STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
Related

Flight Attendant Says Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Didn’t Pay Their Bill on Plane

The Japanese imperial family is not nearly as well known as Britain’s royal family but it too has a history that dates back thousands of years. Town & Country noted the imperial house of Japan is thought to be the oldest continuous monarchy in the world as it can be traced back to 600 BC. 

Its members include Emperor Naruhito, who is the eldest son of former Emperor Akhito, and his wife Empress Masako. The emperor and empress’ daughter is Princess Aiko. Unlike the British line of succession, because she is not male the princess isn’t in line for the throne. Instead, the emperor’s younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino, is first in line.

Best in Entertainment