Japan's Princess Ayako, 27, becomes the second young royal in two years to announce she is marrying a COMMONER and will renounce her status to wed shipping worker, 32
- Princess Ayako has announced she is to marry shipping worker Kei Moriya, 32
- Ayako, 27, is daughter of the late Prince Takamodo, a cousin of Emperor Akihito
- Once she exchanges vows she will be expected to renounce her royal status
- Comes after her cousin Princess Mako - Emperor Akihito's oldest grandchild - announced engagement to her college classmate
Japan's Princess Ayako has announced she is to marry a commoner in a move that will mean giving up her royal status.
The 27-year-old will marry Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of shipping firm NYK Line, at Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine on October 29, according to Japan's Imperial Household Agency.
Princess Ayako, daughter of the late Prince Takamodo, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, becomes the second Japanese princess in under two years to announce she is marrying a commoner.
In September last year, Princess Mako, Emperor Akihito's oldest grandchild, and her college classmate Kei Komuro announced their engagement.
Japan's Princess Ayako (pictured) has announced she is to marry a commoner in a move that will mean giving up her royal status
Princess Mako (right) is engaged to Kei Komuro (left). But in Japan women are not allowed to succeed the throne, meaning that when the pair, both 25, tie the knot, she will lose her status
Japan's Emperor Akihito (front left) and Empress Michiko (front right) mingle with members of the royal family during a spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo on April 20, 2017
Female members of the Imperial family have no claim to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
As with all women in her family, the princesses will lose their royal status upon marriage to commoners - a law that does not apply to male members of the family.
Ayako met Moriya, who has a master's degree in social welfare and now works for the shipping firm NYK Line, under a year ago having been introduced to him by her mother Princess Takamodo in December, the Imperial Household revealed.
According to CNN, she will have to leave the royal family after exchanging vows - but will receive a bonus payment in the region of a million US dollars.
Unlike her cousin Mako, Ayako is not a direct descendent of Emperor Akihito, who is planning to abdicate next year.
Mako announced plans to engage one for the Imperial Household Agency to reveal in February that the wedding, originally set for November, would be delayed until 2020, citing lack of time for preparations
In September last year, Princess Mako (left), Emperor Akihito's oldest grandchild, and her college classmate Kei Komuro (right) announced their engagement
When Naruhito, who has a daughter but no sons, ascends the throne, his younger brother Akishino will be next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino's 10-year-old son. But if Hisahito doesn't have a son there will be a succession crisis. Pictured: Emperor Akihito's family tree
Princess Mako (above) introduced her suitor to her father, Prince Akishino, second in line to the throne, and her mother, Princess Kiko, as someone she wished to 'share her future with'
All grown up: Princess Mako (then four), father Prince Akishino, sister Princess Kako (then one) and mother Princess Kiko pose for photographs in Kanagawa, Japan in January 1996
At the time, the media quoted Mako as saying in a statement that the couple decided to postpone the wedding until after the emperor's abdication.
The sudden announcement triggered speculation that the postponement may be linked to tabloid bashing on Komuro's family background.
The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan - a legacy of the massive Pacific war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989.
Akihito has keenly embraced the more modern role as a symbol of the state which was imposed on the royal family after World War II ended. Previous emperors including Hirohito had been treated as semi-divine.
But the reigning emperor shocked the country in 2016 when he signalled his desire to end his public duties, citing his age and health problems.
Akihito will be the first emperor to retire in more than two centuries in a royal family that traces its lineage back more than 2,600 years.
Japan's crown prince Naruhito will ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne next May
Most watched News videos
- Sex offender gulps during arrest for masterminding paedophiles forum
- 'Real' car thief shows how easy it is to break into a luxury car
- Sex offender gulps during arrest for masterminding paedophiles forum
- Wayne Couzens stops at Costa after raping and murdering Sarah Everard
- Modern Putin warship 'hit and sunk' by Ukraine strike
- Shocking moment mother pummels student after breaking up fight
- Protestors tell Jewish man 'we should beat the f*** out of you'
- Pro-Palestine students surround others talking about antisemitism
- Aerial view of fire that ripped through Forest Gate police station
- Horner: 'We need to move forward, time now to focus on Formula One'
- Emergency call made by mother accused of murdering three-year-old son
- Woman breaks down into tears after being arrested on murder charges