Story highlights Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands hands over the crown to her son

Older monarchs are on the thrones in Britain, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Belgium

Some analysts say the younger generation is best suited for the demands of modern monarchies

As royalty from different parts of the world converged on the Netherlands to watch the monarchy change hands, some of the guests there may have been thinking ahead to the day when they get the top job back home.

In Europe, most monarchs are getting old and have been on their thrones for years. Their offspring are grown up and are now waiting in the wings to take their respective crowns.

Britain's Prince Charles was in Amsterdam to watch Queen Beatrix hand over to her 46-year-old son Willem-Alexander . He was also in the Netherlands when Beatrix herself took the throne from her mother 33 years ago on Queen Juliana's abdication. Charles's new Dutch counterpart is Amalia, The Princess of Orange, who is nine.

Was Charles wondering when his turn would come? Perhaps, but that of course would involve the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. One thing is for sure -- his 61-year wait as heir to the throne won't end with the abdication of his mother.

To the British royals, the word "abdication" brings back painful memories of the 1936 crisis when King Edward VIII was forced to relinquish his throne so he could marry the divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson and relinquished his throne. Queen Elizabeth will never abdicate. The other long-serving European Queen, Margrethe of Denmark also sees it as a job for life.

However, both Margrethe and Elizabeth are handing more responsibilities to their heirs. One option might be for them to appoint their sons Princes Regent which would mean they would be in charge of royal duties while their mothers kept the title.

Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands kisses her son, the now King Willem-Alexander as the now Queen Maxima looks on during a short address to the public after Queen Beatrix abdicated ahead of the investiture of Willem-Alexander on Tuesday, April 30, in Amsterdam, in this image provided by Netherlands Government Information Service. Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima prepare to leave after their investiture ceremony at New Church on April 30 in Amsterdam. Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – A man displays the Act of Abdication signed by Princess Beatrix, her son King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima during the abdication ceremony. Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and members of the royal household take part in the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – King Willem-Alexander stands during the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – A general view of the celebrations for the investiture. Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima pose with guests following their investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Princess Beatrix waves to the crowd gathered on Dam Square from the balcony of the Royal Palace, following the official abdication ceremony. Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – The crowd watches investiture celebrations in Amsterdam. Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and their children, left to right, Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane wave to the crowd gathered on Dam Square. Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – A cleaner vacuums the carpet outside the Royal Palace during Queen Beatrix's abdication ceremony. Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – A street vendor sells T-shirts during celebrations for the investiture. Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – The royal crown lies at the credence-table prior to the investiture of King Willem-Alexander. Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Princess Beatrix sits with her grandaughter Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, during the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Emirati businessman Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, left, attends the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Crown Princess Letizia arrive at a reception hosted by King Willem-Alexander at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam following the investiture. Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and his wife Nane leave the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Photos: The Netherlands' new king The Netherlands' new king – Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attend the investiture ceremony. Hide Caption 18 of 18

Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Newly wed Beatrix and Prince Claus in Amsterdam on March 10, 1966. Prince Claus died aged 76 on October 6, 2002 at a hospital in Amsterdam. Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Prince Claus holds his son Willem-Alexander in 1968. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix is pictured in 1979 at Drakensteyn Castle, the year before she became queen. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix, Friso and Mabel pose at the Palace Huis ten Bosch with the couple's new baby, countess Luana, on April 24, 2005. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Beatrix walks with Prince Johan Friso's wife Princess Mabel as they arrive on February 24, 2012, at the University Hospital in Innsbruck, to visit Prince Johan Friso, who was seriously injured in an avalanche while skiing. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander (right) talks to soldiers during a visit to Gilze Rijen airbase on November 13, 2012. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander and Maxima pose with their daughters as the Dutch royal family celebrates Christmas 2012 in Villa la Angostura, Argentina. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Princesses Alexia, Catharina-Amalia and Ariane pose for Christmas celebrations in 2012. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander, Maxima, Beatrix, Alexia, Amalia and Ariane appear at the annual winter photocall on February 18, 2013 in Lech, Austria. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Queen Beatrix attends the 50th anniversary celebrations of the European School, Bergen on March 12, 2013. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Willem-Alexander, Beatrix and Maxima arrive for the 125th anniversary of the Concertgebouw concert hall and orchestra in Amsterdam on April 10, 2013. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – Orange cows are placed on a traffic island in Wassenaar, the hometown of Willem-Alexander and Maxima, on April 17. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – A crown is hung in the center of Amsterdam on April 23, 2013 ahead of Beatrix's abdication. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – An employee removes a portrait of Beatrix in a Rotterdam courtroom on April 26, ahead of her abdication. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: The Dutch royal family in photos The Dutch royal family in photos – An aerial view shows Drakensteyn Castle and its 20-hectare (49 acre) grounds, where Beatrix will live after her abdication. Beatrix bought the castle in 1959 and moved in four years later, continuing to live there after marrying her husband Prince Claus in 1966. Hide Caption 15 of 15

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Crown princes and princesses across Europe look ready to take on the task of modern-day monarchy with all the burdens that some believe can only be carried by younger royals.

In Spain, 75-year-old year old King Juan Carlos's popularity has waned. And that's led to suggestions, even among monarchists, that his heir, Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia take over the throne.

In Sweden, King Carl Gustaf is 67. He's been on the throne for 40 years and has recently been scandalized in the press. His heir, Crown Princess Victoria is married to Prince Daniel and has a baby daughter, Princess Estelle, as the next two generations there take shape.

And over in Norway, King Harald is in his mid-70s with an heir who will be 40 in July. Crown Prince Haakon is married to Princess Mette-Marit. The couple have had two children.

All of these heirs also have something in common that makes them appealing to a modern, more relaxed generation. They have all married outside the aristocracy, making them more accessible and relevant to younger subjects.

But while the precedent of abdication has set in the Netherlands, it hasn't yet taken hold elsewhere. However, in an age when the pope resigns, don't be surprised if other older royals take some sort of cue from Beatrix.