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King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has revealed to a Dutch newspaper that he has flown as a co-pilot for the airline KLM about twice per month for the last 21 years. His flying hobby will require retraining to fly Boeing 737s, as the airline is phasing out its Fokker 70s. The King says he was not recognized often, especially after 9/11 as passengers now have less contact with the cockpit.
Japan's Princess Mako will reportedly lose royal status due to marrying a commoner, as Japan's current imperial law requires. The move is "expected to reignite debate" over the nation's imperial succession law and is "raising fresh questions about the status of women in the imperial family". Emperor Akihito, who is 83, has recently hinted that he wants to step down, which would require a legislative change or a one-time exemption. [This bill is expected to be introduced on Friday.] Only males can currently become Emperor, and there are only four heirs left to the Chrysanthemum Throne. However, the restriction on female succession dates back to an 1889 Meiji government law, and was retained in the 1947 postwar Constitution. Japan has had six Empress regnants in the past, the most recent reigning from 1762 to 1771. The sons of female royal family members are also not currently in the line of succession, as only the male offspring of the male line can succeed the throne.
MonarchyNews is subjects.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by AthanasiusKircher on Friday May 19 2017, @02:10PM (3 children)
Did anyone else see the phrase "expected to reignite debate" and briefly parse the third word as "reign-ite" instead of "re-ignite"? That's the danger of monarchical thinking -- it can even change your view of grammar!
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Friday May 19 2017, @07:20PM (2 children)
The article is a stange mix of topics. The headline made it sprang into my mind that a succession crisis had occurred because the King of Japan had co-piloted a plane in a kamikaze attack. It must be the way my mind works.
PS: Yes I know Japan has an emperor not a king, and kamikazes didn't have co-pilots.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday May 20 2017, @12:16AM
"Kami" is their co-pilot.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 20 2017, @12:18AM
Something funny happened when they dropped you on Japan.