Japanese princess completes degree course at Leicester University

The granddaughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito said she had a "great experience" as she completes a Masters degree in Leicester.

Princess Mako of Akishino, who is seen by the Japanese media as having the same status as Kate Middleton, studied for a Masters Degree in Museum Studies at the university.

She has now completed her dissertation on a series of glass models called Blaschka and will return to Japan.

Her dissertation supervisor Professor Simon Knell said: "The remarkable thing about having her here was that her aim was to be an ordinary student so you would never ever know within the student group that she was different to any other.

"It was just for Mako, it was a year that was away from all the responsibilities that she has.

"She was just a fantastic student. You would like any student to be polite and to listen and to engage with the ideas you are putting forward, but also to put their own ideas forward and suggestions - and she was able to that. It was a real pleasure."

Princess Mako, 23, was one of 35 students to have been on the course and will graduate in January next year.

Her course included work experience at Coventry Museums and collections-based research at New Walk Museum in Leicester, and when asked what her feelings were about her time in the country, she said: "I have had a great experience."