Buckingham Palace issues announcement on King Charles and Queen Camilla's new Italy trip
King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to Italy in October
King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to the Vatican City in Italy next month to meet Pope Leo XIV during a symbolic state visit, their first official engagement with the newly appointed pontiff.
The king and queen recently hosted US President Donald Trump in the UK for a historic second state visit. Now, they’re heading overseas.
Charles, 76, and Camilla, 78, will reportedly spend two days in Italy, joining Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the Jubilee Year. It comes after they met with the late Pope Francis in Italy in April.
At the time, they held a private audience with Pope Francis on April 9, their 20th wedding anniversary, just days before his death.
King Charles and Queen Camilla set for state visit to Italy
Buckingham Palace announced: “Their Majesties The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See in late October 2025.
“During Their Majesties’ State Visit, The King and Queen will join His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the 2025 Jubilee Year. Traditionally marked every 25 years, a Papal Jubilee is a special time for the Catholic Church.”
The statement added: “The visit will also celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.”
Royal fans appear thrilled over the news. One person said: “We look forward to your visit.”
Another wrote: “Love to see them again in Italy.”
Meanwhile, someone else added: “This is great news.”
Pope Leo’s message to royal family
King Charles and Queen Camilla have yet to officially meet Pope Leo in person. Therefore, their October visit will serve as both an introduction and a continuation of the diplomatic relationship between the Vatican and the British Crown.
The two-day trip will likely include meetings and an audience with Pope Leo.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV sent a touching message of condolence to the royal family following the death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent. The duchess became the first member of the royal family to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years. She did so in 1994.
The visit will also celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
During her funeral on September 16, the first Catholic funeral for a royal in modern history, Pope Leo’s message was read aloud.
“I was saddened to learn of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent,” the message read. “I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty, the members of the royal family, and especially to her husband, The Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren at this time of sorrow.”
King Charles’ visit with Pope Francis
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday (April 21) at the age of 88 after a lengthy battle with pneumonia in both his lungs.
During their private audience in April, Pope Francis is said to have blessed the marriage of Charles and Camilla.
The royal family’s Instagram commemorated the occasion with a message.
“A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday,” it read. “The King and Queen were deeply touched by the Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary.”
Prince William stepped up to represent the royal family at Pope Francis’ funeral. After Pope Francis’ death, King Charles released a heartfelt statement.
“His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion,” the king wrote. “Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.”
Read more: Fears over King Charles and Prince William’s ‘rift’ after ‘attempts to cause divide between them’
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