Private Meeting Takes Place on Royals' 20th Wedding Anniversary During Italy State Visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla have held a long-anticipated private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, following the cancellation of their original appointment due to the pontiff’s health.
Buckingham Palace released an official statement confirming the royal couple met the Pope on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in their four-day State Visit to Italy. The meeting, which had been previously withdrawn from the itinerary on medical advice, was able to proceed after the Pope’s recovery from a 38-day hospital stay.
“Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla this afternoon had a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican,” the statement read. “Their Majesties were delighted The Pope was well enough to host them for a private meeting and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person.”
The encounter, held on the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary, lasted around 20 minutes. During the audience, gifts were exchanged and the Pope offered his personal congratulations to the King and Queen on their milestone.
The meeting came shortly after the King delivered a landmark address to the Italian Parliament, becoming the first British monarch—and only the fourth non-Italian—to speak before a joint session of both houses.
