The Imperial Household Agency said Monday it will officially announce the engagement of Princess Mako, the first grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, to a university classmate on July 8.
Princess Mako, 25, and her fiance-to-be, Kei Komuro, 25, will hold a news conference together the same day, the agency said.
The agency earlier planned to announce the engagement this fall but decided to move it up following consultations with Princess Mako's parents, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, as well as the princess herself as, an agency official said, their intentions have been fully known in public following a spate of news reports.