THE only daughter of Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko married a childhood friend yesterday and began life as a commoner, leaving the royal palace and giving up the title of princess so the wedding could take place.

Wearing a simple white dress and pearls, Japan’s Princess Sayako bid farewell to palace life today to wed a Tokyo city employee in a low-key ceremony, marking the first time that an emperor’s daughter had married a 'commoner'.

THE wedding today of Japan’s Princess Sayako will be austere by Japanese royal standards — instead of the palace, a Tokyo hotel will be the venue.

After years of disappointing speculation about suitors, the engagement of Princess Sayako to a Tokyo city bureaucrat, a commoner, became official today with an announcement by Japan’s Imperial Household Agency.

Crown Princess Masako gave birth today to a baby girl and, as Japan celebrated, court messengers placed by its pillow the sword and deep purple robes of silk that are the symbols of its lofty position.