King Charles III and Queen Camilla embarked on their state visit to Italy, marking their first overseas trip since the King’s brief hospitalization due to side effects from cancer treatment. On the second day of their visit, the royal couple met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and toured some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.
They paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Piazza Venezia, laying a wreath in honor of fallen soldiers. Later, they enjoyed a special tour of the Colosseum, where they met schoolchildren and were greeted by enthusiastic crowds of locals and tourists. Samuele Tassinari, an 18-year-old student from Bologna, expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s very emotional because it’s the first time I’ve seen them.”
At the Quirinale Palace, Charles and Camilla were welcomed by Mattarella and his daughter, escorted by over 30 mounted presidential guards. Their visit was highlighted by a spectacular joint flyover from Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team and the RAF’s Red Arrows.
On Wednesday evening, Mattarella will host a state banquet at the Quirinale Palace to mark the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary. Additionally, King Charles is scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and address a joint session of the Italian Parliament, becoming the first British monarch to do so.
In Rome, the King will emphasize the strong ties between the UK and Italy, especially in the context of NATO cooperation and support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflicts with Russia. The visit will also include a trip to Ravenna to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the city’s liberation by Allied forces, with plans to celebrate local cuisine and meet farmers affected by recent floods.
Buckingham Palace stated that the visit aims to highlight the depth and strength of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
