When he witnessed his mother becoming the head of the monarchy, King Charles was a three-year-old boy. Back then, he was totally unaware that one day he would be the one overtaking the monarchy.

That day arrived with the passing of his mother, late Queen Elizabeth, who ruled the country over 70 years. Her reign spanned 14 US presidencies, from Truman to Joe Biden, and met all but one.

Charles waited long to become a king, and now his son William would ascend the throne in case of Charles’ passing or in case he abdicates, which very unlikely.

Over the last few decades, several European countries have seen their monarchs abdicate in favor of the younger generation of royals, most recently Denmark, when Queen Margrethe II of Denmark became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in more than 900 years. The country celebrated their new head of the monarchy, King Frederik X, in the capital of Copenhagen on Sunday and the Prince and Princess of Wales have closely followed the events unfolding.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced her abdication on TV during her yearly speech on New Year’s Eve. The nation was shocked because no one expected it. She explained that she believed it was time for her son to take her place. Queen Margrethe II, 83, took the throne after her father, King Frederik IX, died in 1972.

“I will leave the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik,” she said in the televised New Year’s address.