The monarchy of the United Kingdom, also called the British Monarchy, descends from King George V and has a fascinating history and lineage that goes back a thousand years. The British monarchy is also known as a constitutional monarchy and is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the current British monarch and is also the Sovereign and Head of State of the UK and its overseas territories.

On the other hand, the Imperial House of Japan, also known as the Imperial family or the Yamato Dynasty, is the oldest monarchy in the world. The hereditary rule started with the honorable Emperor Jimmu about 1500 years ago (around 660 BC), and continues to dominate in Japan with its current Emperor Naruhito. Read on to learn more about the two most prominent monarchies in the world as we uncover some major similarities and differences between them.

Dynastic Monarchy

One of the most apparent similarities between the two royalties is that they both follow a dynastic monarchy. In this form of monarchy, the succession of the ruler is solely from the ruling family, and they continue to reign over a long period of time to preserve their monarchy for future generations. The dynastic family has no say in the politics of the country. That being said, the royalty reserves its power to refuse “royal assent” on the bill or advice of the ministers.

The British Monarchy and the Imperial House of Japan have no key role in the legislative process of their respective counties. However, before any Bill is passed down as a law, it needs approval from the sovereign head.

Royal Lineage

As stated above, both the royal lines are consanguineous to ensure that the ruling monarch comes from a house of highly-esteemed pedigree. Queen Elizabeth is a descendant of William the Conqueror and the inspirational Queen Victoria. There is no doubt that Queen Elizabeth II hails from an impressive lineage, but the current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, directly descends from the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu Omikami). In keeping with Japanese mythology, the ancestors of the Emperor and his family are divine spirits.

Royal Titles

Royal family members have elaborate, fancy titles to honor their royal status. In Japan, the Emperor is never called by his birth name but rather referred to as “His Majesty” or “His Majesty the Emperor.” In writing, the Emperor is formally known as “The Reigning Emperor.” It is a Japanese custom for the Emperor to receive the posthumous name “Emperor Heisei.” The British Queen, on the other hand, has a number “II” at the end of her name to distinguish herself from Queen Elizabeth I.

Moreover, she is referred to by different titles in each commonwealth nation. Since there are 52 nations, she has 52 extensive royal titles. For example, her royal title in the United Kingdom is “Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Saint Lucia and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.” A few other common names of the British monarch are “The White Heron” or “Mother of All People,” etc.

The Line of Succession

The order of succession to the Japanese throne is restricted to male heirs only. In this modern age, where gender inequality is finally being addressed as a prevalent issue, this policy of male-only succession is a matter of immense debate in Japan. However, the Imperial House of Japan strictly believes in following traditions that consider only male heirs to be eligible to take the throne. This is unlike the British Monarchy, which has a female monarch – Queen Elizabeth II – the longest-reigning British monarch to date.

Royal Marriages to Commoners

Marriages to commoners are more prevalent in the British royal family than in the Imperial family. Prince Charles got married to Princess Diana, who was technically a commoner, even though she was born in a noble, aristocratic family. Plus, Prince William and Prince Harry both got married to commoners – Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, respectively. There have been many instances in history where royal members married for love, outside the royal family. For instance, in 1396, the Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt married an ordinary woman, Katherine Swynford, who was a widow and the governess of the Duke’s children.

While marriages to commoners are normal in British royalty, the same can’t be said about the Imperial House of Japan. Emperor Akihito was the first prince to marry an ordinary person; his wife became Empress Michiko after the marriage. Japan’s Princess Ayako gave up her royal status by marrying a commoner (Kei Moriya), as is a custom in the Japanese Imperial family. However, she is not the only royal member who gave up her royal status for love. Another member of the Imperial family that gave up her title by marrying a commoner was Sayako Kuroda.

An exception is Princess Eugenie, who married a commoner Jack Brooksbank but didn’t give up her title. She is still a British royal member and goes by the title Princess Eugenie of York. Recently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they will no longer be the senior members of the royal family. This also means that they won’t be participating in any royal activities and will be financially independent.

Conclusion

The royal family tree of Britain’s Monarchy and the Yamato Dynasty are both enormous. Even though they have different royal practices and traditions, one similarity remains – many have broken royal protocols, traditions, and set a new trend for their regal families.

The British Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family – Are They Any Different From Each Other?