EXCLUSIVE: Princess Mako, 31, is seen riding the New York City BUS with her husband Kei Komuro as couple enjoys very rare outing in the Big Apple – 20 months after she gave up her royal title to wed commoner spouse

She might have grown up as a royal but former Princess Mako of Japan is proving she’s just like us as she was spotted riding public transport in New York City.

The 31-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito was seen navigating the bus network with her commoner husband in new photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

Mako made headlines around the world in 2021 when she sensationally forfeited her royal status to marry her college sweetheart, 31-year-old Kei Komuro.

The couple were seen snuggling up to each other at the bus stop on Tuesday as they waited for their ride to arrive, with the pair both looking intently at something on Kei’s phone.

The pair were seen snuggling up as they rode public transport on Tuesday

For the outing, they were casually dressed with Mako in a white peasant top, black wide-leg pants and simple ballet flats.

Meanwhile her beau wore a gray polo shirt, light-wash jeans and black-and-blue sneakers. 

To beat the New York heat on Tuesday, that saw temperatures soar to 86F, the couple had their hair pulled back in low buns. 

In other photos, they are seen donning face masks as they climb onto a bus and sat side-by-side with Kei’s arm wrapped around Mako’s shoulders.

On the same day, the couple appeared to enjoy a spot of retail therapy as they wandered in and out of shops.

At one point, Kei is spotted carrying a brown paper bag from surf brand Faherty.

The pair continue to appear loved up as throughout the outing they are seen holding hands with Kei also placing a protective arm around Mako.

They married in a civil ceremony back in 2021 and Mako moved to New York City to live with her husband.

Mako leaned on her husband as the couple waited at the bus stop while peering at his phone

For the outing, they were casually dressed with Mako in a white peasant top, black wide-leg pants and simple ballet flats

The affectionate couple were seen holding hands while Kei carried a Faherty bag

Kei reached out for his wife’s hand as they donned face masks before boarding the bus

The couple peered out of the bus window on their day out. Mako gave up her royal status to wed Kei

It’s been reported Mako works as an unpaid volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

It’s been previously reported they live in a luxury one-bedroom apartment and are believed to financially independent.

The former princess was entitled to a $1.3 million payout from the Japanese government after giving up her noble status, but she turned it down. 

Mako had reportedly been making use of her background in art history by serving as an unpaid volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

‘She has specifically been involved in preparing an exhibition of paintings inspired by the life of a 13th-century monk who traveled throughout Japan as he introduced Buddhism,’ according to a 2022 Japan Times article.

Mako has a degree in art and cultural heritage from Japan’s International Christian University, where she met her husband.

She went on to study art history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before receiving her master’s in art museum and gallery studies from the University of Leicester in England. 

The couple married in a civil ceremony (pictured in 2021) and she declined the $1.3 million payout from the Japanese government after giving up her noble status

Mako has a degree in art and cultural heritage from International Christian University in Japan, where she met her husband. The pair pictured walking down the street holding hands

At times Kei put a protective arm around his wife as they went from store to store

Mako was seen looking through the clothing racks at one shop, with her husband close behind

Kei passed the New York bar exam after taking it for the third time in October last year

Meanwhile her husband passed the New York bar exam after taking it for the third time in October last year.

Kei is a graduate of Fordham University law school and has a job at a New York law firm.

Upon marrying him, Mako had to give up her place in the Imperial Family. 

All Japanese princesses relinquish their royal status upon marriage as there is only male succession. 

Other princesses have married commoners and left the palace. But the reaction to Kei and Mako was especially frenzied, much of it focusing on whether he would be able to support his wife.

Mako’s uncle Emperor Naruhito also married a commoner, Harvard graduate Masako, who suffered from depression in the cloistered imperial life. 

Former Emperor Akihito, Naruhito’s father, was the first member of the imperial family to marry a commoner.

The family holds no political power but serves as a symbol of the nation, attending ceremonial events and visiting disaster zones.