Japanese Princess Ayako gives up royal status to marry commoner

Japanese Princess Ayako (L) and her husband Kei Moriya are pictured after their wedding ceremony at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo released by Kyodo on October 29, 2018. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - 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.