Japanese Princess Ayako gives up royal status to marry commoner

Princess Ayako married commoner Kei Moriya on Monday at a traditional ceremony at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine, to become the latest female royal to leave Japan's imperial family.

The 28-year-old princess, the third daughter of Emperor Akihito's late cousin Prince Takamado, tied the knot with Kei Moriya, a 32-year-old employee of shipping company Nippon Yusen.

Japanese Princess Ayako is pictured after her wedding ceremony at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo released by Kyodo on October 29, 2018.

Japanese Princess Ayako (L) and her husband Kei Moriya bow their heads during worship at the Meiji Shrine after their wedding ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo released by Kyodo on October 29, 2018.

The princess wore a many-layered court kimono and molded hairdo typical of the imperial aristocracy, while the groom wore a black tuxedo with grey trousers for the ceremony at the shrine dedicated to the spirit of her great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji.

"I'm filled with joy to get married and to have so many people visit us at the Meiji Shrine and congratulate us,” Princess Ayako told a news conference after the private Shinto wedding ceremony.

Princess Ayako had to renounce her imperial status because she married a commoner, as is the practice for women under Japan's succession law. She will become Ayako Moriya after signing marriage papers later Monday.