COMBO-JAPAN-ROYALS-ABDICATIONS-WORLD

(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on April 3, 2019 shows Pope Benedict XVI (top-L)in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba on March 27, 2012, Spanish King Juan Carlos de Borbon (top-C) at La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago on June 5, 2012, Japan's Emperor Akihito (top-R) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on January 2, 2018, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (bottom-L) in Doha on December 18, 2012, Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands (bottom-C) on April 30, 2013, King Albert II of Belgium (bottom-R) in Liege on July 19, 2013. When the 85-year-old Japanese Emperor Akihito steps down on April 30, 2019 it will be the latest in a string of historic abdications that have included the pope and several monarchs. (Photo by various sources / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY "JAPAN-ROYALS-ABDICATIONS-WORLD" BY RICHARD CARTER (Photo by ESTEBAN FELIXCLAUDIO SANTANAKAZUHIRO NOGIKARIM JAAFARCARL COURTJOHN THYS/POOL/AFP/AL-WATAN DOHA/AFP via Getty Images)