British King Charles and Queen Camilla Arrive in Rome for State Visit, No Meeting with Pope Francis
King Charles III arrived in Rome on Monday for a state visit to Italy, marking his first overseas trip since briefly being hospitalized due to side effects from cancer treatment. He is accompanied by Queen Camilla on this three-day visit.
During the trip, the British king will deliver his first speech to the Italian Parliament, marking a historic moment. The visit will also include meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Italy, as well as a side trip to Ravenna, where a ceremony will be held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Atlantic city.
A planned meeting with Pope Francis has been mutually postponed, as the Pope has been battling a dual pneumonia recently. The 88-year-old Pope returned to the Vatican two weeks ago and made a surprise appearance in St. Peter's Square for the faithful on Sunday.
King Charles, 76, was briefly hospitalized on March 27 due to side effects from an unknown cancer treatment. The following day, he appeared in central London, waving at well-wishers, and since then, he has resumed his scheduled activities.
In Rome, Charles will highlight the close ties between Britain and Italy, particularly at a time when European countries are working to strengthen support against Russia's aggression in Ukraine. As part of the visit, a joint air display will take place over Rome’s historic center, with the Italian Air Force's Frecce Tricolori and the British Red Arrows participating.
The king and queen will also attend a reception in Ravenna, where they will participate in a ceremony marking the liberation from the Nazis 80 years ago. Additionally, they will meet with local farmers from the Emilia-Romagna region, whose fields were recently damaged by floods.
