The boyfriend of Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, intends to pay money to his mother's former fiance in an effort to settle a long-standing financial dispute, his lawyer said Monday.

The move comes after Kei Komuro expressed his resolve to marry the princess in a statement released last week. The row involves about ¥4 million ($36,600) the former fiance claims Komuro's mother owes him.

Komuro, who has been studying at Fordham University's law school in New York since August 2018, has informed the 29-year-old princess of his intention to pay settlement money, the lawyer told reporters.