In Rome, Pope Francis welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican for a private audience during the royal couple’s four-day tour of Italy, which coincides with their 20th wedding anniversary. This meeting marked the pope’s first since recuperating from severe double pneumonia, which had previously postponed their intended encounter.
The meeting with the pope was arranged for Wednesday afternoon and continued for about 20 minutes. Throughout the visit, the pope exchanged gifts with the king and queen. Discussions are predicted to continue regarding a prospective visit from the monarch to the Vatican in the future. According to the Vatican, the pope congratulated the couple on their anniversary, and the royal pair reciprocated with wishes for the pontiff’s swift recovery. Buckingham Palace expressed their appreciation for the pope’s improved health and the opportunity to convey their well-wishes personally.
King Charles and Queen Camilla last visited Pope Francis in April 2017 at the Vatican, and Charles also encountered the pope during the 2019 canonization of St. John Henry Newman. After convalescing at the Vatican from March 23, the pope had been seen among followers in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, moving with the aid of a wheelchair and nasal oxygen support, greeting the crowd warmly.
Earlier on Wednesday, King Charles addressed the Italian Parliament, urging steadfast alliances between Italy and the UK amidst current European conflicts. As the first British monarch, and only the fourth foreign dignitary, to deliver a speech to the Italian parliament, Charles emphasized the historic ties and cultural sharing between the two nations dating back to ancient Rome.
Charles acknowledged the visible nature of peace’s fragility in contemporary news and highlighted the support both countries have shown Ukraine amid recent turmoil. He praised the collaborative efforts of Italian and British forces as part of NATO, mentioning a new fighter jet venture alongside Japan as a testament to mutual trust and potential job creation.
During their Italian visit, marking their wedding anniversary, the royal couple attended a state banquet hosted by President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace. Queen Camilla donned an updated version of her wedding ensemble, originally featuring the craftsmanship of designer Anne Valentine and new embellishments by artisan Beth Somerville from King’s Foundation.
On their wedding day, Camilla wore a distinct chiffon dress with a matching pale blue and gold coat for the St George’s Chapel ceremony at Windsor. Earlier in the day, King Charles met Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, enjoying a stroll through the gardens of the historic Villa Doria Pamphili.
Looking forward, King Charles will soon jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion in Europe with President Mattarella. Moreover, during his address, Charles focused on the planetary threats of climate change, recalling an earlier Italian speech highlighting the urgency now confirmed by environmental changes.
Charles expressed concerns about escalating extreme weather events and the peril facing numerous plant and animal species. His speech included sections in Italian, drawing applause as he playfully doubted his linguistic prowess might jeopardize future visits to Italy.
The Italian trip marks Charles’ first international journey this year after hospital visits due to complications from his ongoing cancer treatment.