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Europe's royal heirs gather in The Netherlands

Europe's royal heirs have posed for a rare photograph together. The charming image shows the blue-blooded group dressed in casual clothes, standing outside Het Oude Loo, a former hunting lodge in the Dutch town of Apeldoorn.

Invited by Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands, Prince Guillaume and Stephanie of Luxembourg, Prince Daniel and Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Mary of Denmark and Prince Haakon of Norway came together for the first large gathering of Europe's heirs since Guillaume and Stephanie married in October 2012.

Missing from the party were Britain's own heirs, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Prince Frederick of Denmark and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

The gathering was significant as it is most likely the last time the group will meet  as heirs, given that Willem-Alexander will become King of The Netherlands iIn less than two months. Willem-Alexander became the first of his generation of heirs to ascend the throne when his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdiacted, a move that sent ripples of interest around the other palaces in Europe.