King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Rome for the start of a ‘historic’ four-day State Visit to Italy, which will see them fly the British flag aboard.
Charles and Camilla, 77, arrived at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport where they enjoyed a red carpet welcome from British and Italian officials.
After stepping off the plane they paused by the British and Italian flags.
Charles, 76, has insisted on making the trip despite his ongoing cancer treatment, which saw him hospitalised just 12 days ago for observation after suffering debilitating side-effects.
In all, the monarch and his wife will pack in 19 engagements between today and Thursday, with a number of Vatican events removed from the itinerary in Rome.
A separate state visit to the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church, in the Vatican, has been cancelled, as Pope Francis is recuperating after leaving hospital following treatment for double pneumonia.
Their Majesties are staying at Villa Wolkonsky, home of the British ambassador to Italy, which is set in beautiful and peaceful grounds. It is crossed by 36 spans of the Neronian aqueduct dating back back to the 1st Century AD.
The glorious villa was originally owned by Russian Princess Zenaǐde Wolkonsky, who made her home there in the 1830s. Her salon was frequented by literary lights including Sir Walter Scott.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Rome for the start of an ‘historic’ four-day State Visit to Italy, which will see them fly the British flag aboard
It passed through many different hands until it was sold to the German government in 1920, becoming the German embassy and ambassador’s residence.
After the Liberation of Rome in 1944 the Italian government sequestrated the property before it was purchased by the British government in 1951.
The royals will also celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while in Rome on Wednesday.
Although they will, sadly, spend most of the day apart on a busy programme of visits, they will be the joint guests of honour at a glittering black tie State Banquet held by President Mattarella at the glorious Palazzo Quirinale in the evening.
Sources have insisted that His Majesty has no lasting concerns following his hospitalisation, which was said to be ‘not uncommon with many medical treatments’ and is just keen to ‘keep busy and get on with the job.’
One royal aide also revealed that he and the Queen were ‘excited’ about their visit to a country they both adore.
Charles, 76, has insisted on making the trip despite his ongoing cancer treatment, which saw him hospitalised just 12 days ago for observation after suffering debilitating side-effects
Charles waved as he made a sunny arrival in Italy, ahead of his and Queen Camilla’s visit to the nation
The royal plane touched down at Ciampino Airport King this afternoon, with the royal couple greeted with sunny skies
Their Majesties were formally welcomed by British and Italian representatives as they arrived on Monday
Although they will, sadly, spend most of the day apart on a busy programme of visits, they will be the joint guests of honour at a glittering black tie State Banquet held by President Mattarella at the glorious Palazzo Quirinale in the evening
Charles and Camilla, 77, arrived at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport where they enjoyed a red carpet welcome from British and Italian officials
After stepping off the plane they paused by the British and Italian flags. Pictured stepping off the plane
The royals will also celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while in Rome on Wednesday. Pictured together
The royals, pictured, will also celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while in Rome on Wednesday
The King appeared to be in high spirits as he stepped of the plane in sunny Italy this afternoon -for the royal couple’s visit
British Ambassador to Italy, Lord Llewelyn, described the visit as historic, not least because it is the couple’s first as King and Queen.
He said: ‘All of us at the British Embassy are hugely looking forward to welcoming Their Majesties The King and Queen to Rome, to Italy.
‘I know that Italy is very much looking forward to welcoming them as well. Indeed, the owner of my local pizza bar has asked me about the visit every time I drop by.
‘This is a historic visit, made at the request of British government and Their Majesties first State Visit to Italy as King and Queen.
‘Italy is a country they know well. This will be the King’s 18th official visit and the Queen has visited many times too.
‘On the evening of the coronation many Italians saw footage of the King telling an Italian television crew on The Mall ‘I love Italy’ and the feeling is mutual.’
Lord Llewelyn pointed out the ‘thriving relationship’ between the two countries: nearly half a million Italian call the UK home, as do tens of thousands of British citizens living in Italy, with many millions more coming on holiday every year.
He said the visit had been organised at a ‘key moment’ for the UK as it continued to ‘strengthen’ its relationship with Italy following the Brexit vote, as it is with many other European partners.
King Charles, pictured, waved whilst arriving at Giovan Battista Pastine international airport, in Rome
The King – pictured – was seen waving at the crowd as they pulled away from the airport in their car
‘This visit will inject further momentum to drive that cooperation across the board but especially on defence, on sustainability, on clean energy and our cultural ties,’ he said.
He also revealed that Their Majesties would be accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who will use the opportunity to hold talks on these issues.
He highlighted defence as being a particularly key issue in the light of European tensions, including Ukraine.
‘It is vital in a changing Europe that both our countries stand steadfast in our support for Ukraine,’ he said, highlighting a forthcoming joint naval exercise with Italy in the Mediterranean.
The UK is also building its ‘next generation’ fighter aircraft in a joint project with Italy and Japan.
‘It is vital for both our countries’ national security and will generate growth and many thousands of jobs,’ he added.
To highlight this the King and Queen will be treated to a fly-past in Rome on Tuesday by the Red arrows and their Italians counterparts, the Frecce Tricolori, while the band of the Welsh Guards will play alongside their Italian counterparts as the couple visit the historic Colosseum.
In the city of Ravenna on Thursday the King will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city and province by British and Canadian armed forces.
The UK is also building its ‘next generation’ fighter aircraft in a joint project with Italy and Japan. The couple pictured on arrival
Charles and Camilla arrived at Ciampino Airport this afternoon – ahead of their ‘historic’ visit to Italy
The Queen was the image of elegance in a navy blue dress, as she basked in the sunny Italian weather greeting the couple
Charles matched his wife with a deep blue pinstripe suit, teamed with a cream tie and white shirt
British and Canadian flags have flown in Ravenna Town Hall since 1946 in gratitude.
Lord Llewelyn said: ‘Their Majesties’ State Visit is already being hailed as a historic day in Ravenna; ‘Royal fever rising’ was the headline in the local newspaper when I was last there. It will leave a lasting impression on this small city of 150,000 people.’
He also highlighted ‘flourishing’ economic ties with Italy being the UK’s 9th largest trading partner and 6th largest source on inwards trading projects.
Sustainability will also be featured with a round table meeting on clean power and a celebration of the slow food movement in Ravenna, with a special festival featuring local cuisine with a British twist such as Parmesan and whiskey.
Their Majesties’ visit will also feature all the ‘traditional elements of a state visit’ including bi-lateral meetings and the state banquet, while the King will become the first British monarch in history to be invited to address a joint session of the Italian parliament on Wednesday.
Lord Llewelyn concluded: ‘This visit will deliver a meaningful and broad legacy. Above all Their Majesties will do something intangible but priceless, their visit will strength the closeness between our nations in a way that only they can, creating memories that will last a generation.
‘Their love for Italy and all things Italian, the things Italians cherish – culture, food, heritage – resonate very, very deeply here. So a lot to look forward to in the next few days.
‘A state visit that brings together quite simply the best of Italy and the best of Britain, the closest of friends, allies and partners.’
Charles will become the first British monarch to address both houses of Italy’s parliament – the chamber of deputies and the senate of the republic.
The King will also hold audiences with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and he and his wife will attend a black-tie state banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale, hosted by the president on the evening of their 20th wedding anniversary.
The UK and Italy’s defence co-operation will be marked by a joint flypast over Rome by the Italian air force’s aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, and the RAF’s Red Arrows.
In Ravenna, near Bologna, Charles and Camilla will mark the 80th anniversary of the province’s liberation from Nazi occupation by allied forces, on April 10 1945, during a town hall reception.
They will celebrate literary culture by visiting Dante’s tomb and the Queen will make a solo trip to the Byron museum.
Charles returned to official public duties on Tuesday last week after cancelling a string of engagements at the end of the previous week, when he experienced temporary side effects from cancer treatment on March 27.
Buckingham Palace announced that evening that the King had ‘required a short period of observation in hospital’ earlier that day.
Planned engagements in Birmingham the following day, March 28, were cancelled to prioritise his recovery as a precautionary measure.
A source described it as a ‘most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction’.
