King Charles III and Queen Camilla marked their 20th wedding anniversary with a historic Vatican visit to Pope Francis, demonstrating ongoing royal diplomacy despite both leaders’ recent health challenges.
At a Glance
- King Charles and Queen Camilla met Pope Francis at the Vatican during their four-day official visit to Italy
- The meeting coincided with the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary
- This was Pope Francis’s first major engagement since recovering from double pneumonia
- The visit highlights ongoing diplomatic ties between Britain and the Vatican despite both leaders recovering from health issues
- King Charles became the first British monarch to address the Italian Parliament during this trip
Historic Meeting of Recovering Leaders
King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s private audience with Pope Francis on April 9 represented a significant diplomatic moment as both world leaders continue recovering from health challenges. The meeting at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican occurred during the royal couple’s four-day state visit to Italy and marked their 20th wedding anniversary.
This gathering had been initially announced in March but was postponed due to the Pope’s hospitalization for double pneumonia, from which he has been recuperating since March 23.
The Vatican visit carried special significance as it also coincided with the four-year anniversary of the death of King Charles’s father, Prince Philip. Both leaders exchanged warm wishes during their meeting, with the Pope congratulating the couple on their anniversary milestone and expressing hopes for King Charles’s continued recovery from cancer treatment.
The British monarch has been gradually resuming public duties after his February cancer diagnosis.
King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis at Vatican on their anniversary – BBC News https://t.co/01dq0aHlJg
— We Are Catholic (@wearecatholic) April 9, 2025
Strengthening European Alliances
The royal visit to Italy represents part of Britain’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with European allies. During their stay, the King and Queen met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, participating in a state banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale celebrating their anniversary. Queen Camilla notably wore a modified version of her wedding dress for the occasion, honoring their milestone anniversary.
According to Buckingham Palace note: “Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla this afternoon had a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican. Their Majesties were delighted The Pope was well enough to host them — and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person.”
King Charles made history earlier in the visit by becoming the first British monarch to address the Italian Parliament. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of close UK-Italy relations and the need for European unity in defending common values. Charles delivered portions of his address in Italian, drawing applause from Italian lawmakers. The King also discussed climate change issues with Prime Minister Meloni, reaffirming his longstanding environmental advocacy.
Religious and Diplomatic Significance
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, King Charles’s meeting with Pope Francis carries particular religious and diplomatic weight. While the Vatican and Anglican Communion have historical differences, this meeting underscores ongoing efforts at ecumenical dialogue. This wasn’t Charles’s first engagement with the Vatican – he previously attended the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman in 2019, though that was before his ascension to the throne.
“Pope Francis met privately with Their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, this afternoon. In the course of the meeting, the Pope expressed his best wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and reciprocated His Majesty’s wishes for a speedy recovery of his health.”, declares the Holy See Press Office.
The visit included an exchange of gifts between the pontiff and the royal couple. Discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding a future, more formal visit by King Charles to the Vatican when both leaders have fully recovered. This trip to Italy marks Charles’s first international travel this year after his hospitalization due to side effects from cancer treatment, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining Britain’s diplomatic presence despite personal health challenges.
