The royal couple, King and Queen, have landed in Rome for their official visit to the Vatican City. The visit comes amid public scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s use of the Royal Lodge. During the two-day trip, Charles and Camilla will meet Pope Leo XIV for the first time since his election.
In a historic moment, King Charles, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will become the first British monarch in nearly 500 years to pray at a public service with the Pope, head of the Catholic Church. The royal pair arrived in Rome on a British Government plane from Farnborough Airport, welcomed by representatives from the Holy See.
Dressed in a feather print silk dress by Fiona Clare and a brown cashmere trench coat by Anna Valentine, the Queen expressed her pleasure at being there, while the King mentioned his joy at returning to Rome. This visit marks Charles’ sixth visit to the Vatican, having previously met three popes.
The royal visit coincides with ongoing controversies surrounding Prince Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. The Prince recently renounced his royal titles in response to new allegations made by Virginia Giuffre in her posthumous memoir. There is also focus on Andrew’s long-term occupancy of a 30-bedroom mansion in Windsor, with questions raised about the financial arrangements.
Parliamentary committees may investigate the Crown Estate’s handling of Andrew’s property, supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Legislation has been proposed to grant the King the authority to remove Andrew’s titles. A majority of Britons support the formal stripping of Andrew’s dukedom, as revealed in a recent YouGov poll.
The King’s upcoming prayer with the Pope at the Sistine Chapel is highly anticipated, symbolizing the strengthening relationship between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. The royal spokesperson emphasized the significance of this visit in promoting unity and cooperation among Christian communities worldwide.
The King and Queen are scheduled to partake in various official engagements during their stay in Rome, highlighting the importance of diplomacy and interfaith dialogue.