The Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday the wedding ceremony of Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, and her classmate from university days Kei Komuro will be held on Nov. 4 next year.

The 83-year-old emperor and Empress Michiko are expected to attend the ceremony at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, according to agency sources. The emperor is set to abdicate in the spring of 2019.

Before the wedding, the couple, both 26, will hold a traditional rite of betrothal called "Nosai no Gi," on March 4 to be formally engaged, the agency said. The ceremony is set on a Sunday, in light of Komuro's work as a paralegal at a law firm, according to agency sources.

The agency formally announced the planned engagement of the couple in September, confirming earlier news reports. Princess Mako will renounce her status as a member of the imperial family after marrying the commoner, in accordance with Imperial House Law.