The King made a wry joke about his health as he planted a tree in Rome this morning, on the final day of his state visit to Italy.
Charles was on particularly jovial form as he kickstarted the day by chatting with scientists and planting a tree in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, the ambassador’s residence where the King and Queen have been staying, and jubilantly waved his shovel in the air once he had finished.
Turning to speak to members of the embassy who had gathered on the lawns, he quipped: ‘Well I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.’
When shovelling the soil over the tree, the King said ‘it’s not manure is it? It usually is?
‘One more,’ he said, as the assembled crowd clapped and cheered.
Charles then unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion, before pointing at the newly planted tree and saying: ‘Needs a bit of water.’
He spent a few minutes exchanging pleasantries with the embassy staff and their families, and joked: ‘Oh dear is there anybody left in the office?’
Earlier, the King spent 20 minutes chatting with representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), which offers a conceptual framework for using renewable natural capital to holistically transform and manage land, food and health.
This morning King Charles visited Villa Wolkonsky, the home of the British ambassador to Italy where he met representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance to discuss biodiversity research
Charles, who has spent much of his life highlighting environmental challenges, met three groups in the gardens of the villa, each representing a project related to the work of the CBA
The royal planted a tree donated by President Mattarella from the Castelporziano Estate in the garden of the villa in front of climate change researchers and with the help of a member of staff
Charles, who has spent much of his life highlighting environmental challenges, met three groups in the gardens of the villa, each representing a project related to the work of the CBA.
The first focused on ‘The Importance of Nature for Human Health and Wellbeing’ and the King asked if they had found new treatments based in nature.
He then moved on to the second group which focused on ‘Invasive Species and Conservation’ before heading over to meet experts in ‘Urban Forests and Global Change’ who demonstrated scientific equipment and how it is being used to measure the impact of climate change and related risks on trees.
As he was leaving, he thanked the embassy staff for their hospitality during their three nights at the villa.
‘Thank you all so much for all your help, marvellous,’ he said.
The King then reunited with the Queen as they headed to the airport to travel to Ravenna for the remainder of their engagements.
Charles was on particularly jovial form as he kickstarted the final day of his state visit, joking with the embassy staff and their families, and asking if there was anyone left in the office
After planting the tree, the King, who appeared n high spirits joked to members of the embassy who had gathered on the lawns: ‘Well I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.’
The King spent 20 minutes chatting with representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), which offers a conceptual framework for using renewable natural capital
Charles then unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion, before pointing at the newly planted tree and saying: ‘Needs a bit of water’
His Majesty appeared in great spirits during his engagement meeting with representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) in Rome on Thursday
Hours before Their Majesties’ arrival, the small city in northern Italy, was crowded with fans, many of whom had been already queuing for hours.
A group of Italian women dressed in red and blue, wearing eye-catching hats and fascinators and carrying Union flags with members of the Royal Family on them were at the front of the crowds.
They described themselves as ‘Anglophiles’ and ‘huge fans’ of the British Royal Family.
Antique dealer Chiara Simonini said: ‘We love England the Royal Family, we are huge fans. We love the history and their sense of duty. We have travelled to the United Kingdom several times to watch some of the events but the fact that King Charles is coming here to us now is magic. ‘
Giorgia Lucenti added: ‘It’s a gift for us. We thought it was wonderful that King Charles spoke in Italian in the parliament yesterday. It showed enormous respect. We would give him ten out of ten. He was perfect.’
The women had travelled from their homes in the region up to an hour away to secure front spots in the crowd, waiting seven hours for their arrival.
‘But it was worth it,’ Sara Novelli said.
Annarita Maserati had brought her 11-year-old daughter, Victoria, named after Queen Victoria.
The King and Queen travelled to Forli in the afternoon, arriving shortly before 1pm after taking a 50-minute flight from Rome
After descending the stairs of the plane, the royal couple chatted with some assembled dignitaries
‘I met her father, who is also Italian, in London under the statue of Queen Victoria,’ she said.
‘We love the history of your country and the Royal Family is that. I loved Queen Elizabeth, she was a great woman. And it is a huge honour to have King Charles and Queen Camilla here.
‘I have followed them for 40 years. I love the people of Great Britain. I was there for the Queen’s Jubilee, William and Kate’s wedding and the Queen’s funeral. I could see how much the people of your country loved their Royal Family.
‘I could see how much they loved Queen Elizabeth. I am so very happy King Charles has come here, especially as he has been unwell. He is a brave man. ‘
Riccardo Massi, 16, had brought with him a folder of correspondence from the Royal Family he has collected after writing to them on special occasions, as well as their replies.
One of his letters to the King he said: ‘I believe if everyone was like you, the world would be a better place, where everyone could live in peace, as you represent for me an example of virtue and perfection, a sublime role model of altruism and humility.’
He said: ‘He is a great man. It will be an honour to meeting him.’
The King and Queen then travelled to Forlì, en route to Ravenna, arriving shortly before 1pm, having taken a 50 minute flight from Rome.
They chatted as they descended the steps of the Government plane before greeting a handful of dignitaries.
WALKABOUT: Their Majesties are pictured waving at well-wishers during a walkabout in Ravenna
As they arrived at the Piazza San Francesco in Ravenna, King Charles was pictured shaking hands with some of the assembled crowds
When they travelled to Ravenna, the royal couple’s first engagement was a visit to the tomb of Dante Alighieri
While visiting the tomb, they listened to actor Ermanna Montanari recite the prayer of Saint Bernard in Canto XXXIII of Dante’s Divine Comedy before entering the small temple housing the remains of the Italian poet to pay their respects
After listening to the recitation, the literature-loving couple entered the tomb of the famous poet
King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared slightly sombre for a moment, as they visited the final resting place of the famous Italian writer and poet
King Charles and Queen Camilla were snapped while speaking with actress Ermanna Montanari during their visit to Dante’s tomb
The actress seemed animated as she spoke with the royal couple during the fourth day of their royal tour to Italy on Thursday
Gian Luca Zattini, the Mayor of Forli, presented Camilla with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
‘They’re lovely, thank you very very much,’ she said. ‘They’re beautiful.’
When Charles and Camilla arrived in the centre of the city of Ravenna cheers went up from the crowds who had waited patiently for more than two hours to catch a glimpse of their guests.
The King and Queen went on a meet and greet, shaking hands with well-wishers who were standing behind crash barriers.
The couple observed the Italian and British national anthems played by a local band in the Piazza San Francesco, where they were met by the acting mayor of Ravenna, Fabio Sbaraglia.
First stop on their visit was a tour of the final resting place of the famous Italian literary figure Dante.
The Queen was wearing the same white and beige coat dress by Anna Valentine that she wore in the official anniversary portraits taken on the first day of their state visit to Italy.
The pictures, released on Monday evening, were taken in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky next to the Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia.
It came as the Vatican released a photograph of the couple’s secret meeting with the Pope yesterday.
It showed the couple, dressed in black as is the tradition on meeting the Pontiff, greeting Pope Francis, who was seated in a chair without the breathing apparatus he has worn in recent weeks.
Camilla, 77, is shaking his hand while Charles, 76, is smiling and holding a red gift box.
The picture was taken by Vatican photographers.
As he was leaving, he thanked the embassy staff for their hospitality during their three nights at the villa. ‘Thank you all so much for all your help, marvellous,’ he said
Their Majesties had been due to undertake a State Visit to the Holy See but that was cancelled due to the Pope’s health. He spent more than a month in hospital with double pneumonia and other associated conditions.
But it had been long hoped the couple could meet with him privately should his health allow.
Buckingham Palace confirmed last night: ‘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.’
A private exchange of gifts took place during the audience which happened mid-afternoon, after Their Majesties returned from the Italian Parliament.
The meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes.
No details of the private audience were released but it is understood The Pope took the opportunity to wish Their Majesties happy anniversary.
The meeting took place at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope has been recovering for more than two weeks since being released from Gemelli Hospital.
The special event happened on day three of Charles and Camilla’s four-day State Visit to Italy.
Charles and the Pope are understood to have wished each other well following their personal health battles in recent months.
Buckingham Palace issued a photograph of the meeting on social media, with a post saying: ‘Che occasione speciale!
‘A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.
‘The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person.’
Ths followed a statement released yesterday evening, in which the Holy See Press Office stated: ‘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.’
