• Takaichi set to become Japan’s first female prime minister.
• Takaichi’s election marks a shift to the right in Japan.
• Equity markets optimistic about Takaichi’s economic policies.

Hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi was set to become Japan’s first female prime minister on Tuesday after winning a critical vote in parliament’s lower house.

An acolyte of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and an admirer of Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi received 237 votes in the lower house election to choose the next premier, topping the majority of the 465-seat chamber. 

Her victory shatters the glass ceiling in a country where men still hold overwhelming sway and puts Japan, a close US ally, on a forceful shift to the right.

Her victory comes after her Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for most of its postwar history, agreed to a coalition deal with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin.

Takaichi will likely be approved by the less-powerful upper house and sworn in as Japan’s 104th prime minister this evening to succeed the incumbent Shigeru Ishiba, who last month announced his resignation to take responsibility for election losses.

But her elevation is unlikely to be feted as a sign of progressive change, marking instead a turn to the right on immigration and social issues. After years of deflation, Japan is now grappling with rising prices, something that has sparked public anger and fuelled support for oppositions groups including the far-right Sanseito party.

Prince William is reportedly planning to strip down brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle’s royal titles by using Prince Andrew’s blue print as he recently dropped his royal privileges amid alleged association to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As per a report by Radaronline, during the royal family’s summer stay at Balmoralthe, the future king is said to have talked about the move with King Charles following Andrew’s statement about relinquishing his titles and honors.

A royal insider said, “From the outside, Balmoral seemed like the usual royal getaway – strolls, barbecues, and cozy family meals. But privately, major talks were going on. William’s convinced the monarchy can’t evolve while Harry and Meghan still hold titles.”

“What happened with Andrew showed him it’s time for a definitive break. The King’s decision basically handed him the playbook.”

It is pertinent to mention that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties back in 2020 but the pair kept their royal titles and continued to use them.

To William it is now “safeguarding the monarchy’s future.”

A second source said, William “really respects how his father handled Andrew – it was tough but the right call, and it showed that no one, regardless of status, is above the Crown. He feels the same principle should apply to Harry and Meghan. This isn’t about revenge – it’s about preservation.”

Prince Harry developed real paranoia after Meghan Markle debut for Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex got worried about his future with the ‘Suits’ star and called out the media after comments were made on her racial background.

Speaking about Harry’s state of worry, Royal expert Phil Dampier notes: “We were completely and utterly shocked by that. I just couldn’t believe it when he did that.”

He continued: “Looking back I think there were one or two remarks in a couple of columns that made some rather unpleasant remarks about her background.

“But generally speaking, 99 per cent of the coverage was overwhelmingly positive and welcoming.”

Dampier added: “She seemed like a breath of fresh air.

“I just couldn’t believe it when he started complaining to the press that she was being mistreated because, generally speaking, I don’t think she was.”

Mr Dampier summarised by saying: “We know from Spare and everything that has happened subsequently that obviously he bottled up a lot of angst and bitterness.

“But William had to go through the same and he has managed to cope with it.

“It’s obviously really affected him but I just wish he didn’t blame everyone else for it. It wasn’t the press, it wasn’t the public, they all wanted it to succeed,” he noted.