Aging monarchs in the Netherlands and Belgium stepped down this year to make room for the next generation of Europe's crowned heads. But in Britain, the impending birth of a royal baby will have heirs stacking up like planes at London's super-clogged Heathrow Airport.
So with Queen Elizabeth II, now 87 after 61 years on the throne, perhaps it is no surprise that the "A-word" is floating around these isles.
Abdication.