Queen Camilla was spotted enjoying a few tipples this afternoon as she savoured the best of Italian hospitality during an ongoing state visit to the country.
The 77-year-old royal looked elegant in an ivory Anna Valentine silk coat as she was seen sampling some of Italy‘s finest wines on the fourth day of her and King Charles’s trip.
Camilla was glowing as she soaked up glorious sunshine while on a visit to a UK-Emilia Romagna Food Festival in the Piazza del Popolo, Ravenna, on the final day of their state visit.
The royal couple were treated to a selection of Italian delicacies – including a few glasses of brandy – as they ambled through the market in Ravenna, having spent the first part of the day in Rome.
The two met with local farmers whose land and crops have been severely affected by devastating floods which have hit the Ravenna region in recent years.
Her Majesty’s eyes lit up as one local brewer poured her a generous sample of a golden brown liquid, which appeared to be brandy, before clinking glasses with the royal and sharing a sip by her side.
And Camilla wasn’t alone in making the most of the local treats as a beaming Charles also sipped on what looked to be brandy.
Charles, 76, and his wife were greeted by an excitable crowd who offered warm wishes, smiling as they shook hands and snapped up selfies with the royal duo.
Queen Camilla was spotted tucking into a few tipples this afternoon as she enjoyed the best of Italian hospitality during a state visit to Rome (pictured)
The 77-year-old royal looked elegant in an ivory Anna Valentine silk coat as she was seen sampling some of Italy ‘s finest wines on the fourth day of her and King Charles’s state visit to the country
The couple arrived in Ravenna, in the north of the country, earlier today.
It seemed as if the entire city had come out to greet them with huge crowds packed onto the streets and squares as they waved from the balcony of the Town Hall.
At a ‘slow food’ festival in the main Piazza del Popolo, they celebrated the best of produce grown in the Emilia Romagna region.
Camilla also gamely tried her hand at rolling out some pasta with a team of sfogline – pasta makers.
Grabbing a rolling pin, the Queen said: ‘I can see you need to be quite strong for this!’ as she made flat golden sheets to be cut into mini squares.
As Camilla dusted her pasta, the King was shown specially cured ham, which takes over 12 months to create, and was gifted a jar of chutney.
‘We’ll enjoy that later,’ he smiled.
At the Tempted Elderflower Cider stand, Camilla also sipped a local brew, remarking how ‘lovely and fizzy’ the drink was.
The couple arrived in Ravenna, in the north of the country, earlier today
The royal couple were treated to a selection of Italian delicacies – including a few glasses of brandy – as the ambled through the market in Ravenna, having spent the first part of the day in Rome
On their arrival in the city a few hours earlier, the couple were greeted by scores of die-hard Italian fans – many of whom had queued for up to eight hours to catch a glimpse of them.
A group of Italian ladies dressed in red and blue, wearing eye-catching hats and fascinators and carrying Union Jack flags, were at the front of the crowd.
They described themselves as ‘Anglophiles’ and ‘huge fans’ of the British Royal Family.
Antique dealer Chiara Simonini said: ‘We love England and the Royal Family. We love the history and their sense of duty. 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.’
Others shouted ‘Bienvenuto Maestro!’ as King Charles walked past.
The couple then visited the tomb of the legendary medieval Italian poet, Dante – the ‘father of the Italian language’ – and watched a reading of his most famous work the ‘Divine Comedy’.
Camilla wore the same cream Anna Valentine outfit she sported in their anniversary portraits this week, accessorising with a brooch by the Italian designer Lucia Odescalchi.
On their arrival in the city a few hours earlier the couple were greeted by scores of die-hard Italian fans, many of whom had queued for up to eight hours to catch a glimpse of them
The King went on his own to the stunning Basilica di San Vitale, gazing skywards in a moment of quiet contemplation that he called ‘so moving’.
The Basilica is designed in an octagonal shape with a domed ceiling and is decorated with spectacular Byzantine mosaics.
Outside, Charles was introduced to artists working to preserve the ancient skill of Byzantine mosaic making.
He was then invited to place a small gold tile into a picture of himself and the Queen at their Coronation, which they were later given as a gift.
Charles asked – maybe slightly hopefully – whether it would stay in place.
Meanwhile Camilla, went to visit Lord Byron’s House in the city – he was known as the ‘mad Englishman’ – and highlighted the importance of reading and literacy.
The King joked with a veteran partisan who fought to liberate Italy during the Second World War asking – ‘how did you arrive at 103?’
Charles chatted to Stefano Pagani in the city of Ravenna in a region of Italy celebrating being liberated from Nazi-Fascism by Canadian, British and other Allied forces 80 years ago.
The elderly man stood up from his wheelchair to greet the royal guest proudly wearing a handkerchief in the Italian national colours round his neck.
Charles, 76, and his wife were greeted by an excitable crowd who offered warm wishes, smiling as they shook hands and snapped up selfies with the royal duo
He told the king he would turn 103 this year when asked his age through an interpreter, and after Charles marvelled at his longevity the former Second World fighter quipped ‘I’m always hungry’.
The veteran said later: ‘I didn’t stop to see the liberation in the area, we kept moving and fighting, fighting to liberate my country.’
Nearby in the town hall reception was the Queen who he spoke to a younger partisan, 98-year-old Minny Geminiani, who was aged just 17 when she served as a messenger during the war.
She said after speaking to Camilla: ‘I told her I would love to live one day as a Queen.’
The couple were joined by Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella and foreign secretary David Lammy who has accompanied the King and Queen throughout the four-day Italian visit.
Before Charles and Camilla made a balcony appearance from the town hall to wave at crowds below, acting Mayor of Ravenna Fabio Sbaraglia gave a speech paying tribute to the sacrifices of the allies.
He told guests who included senior British and Canadian officers working in Italy: ‘Ravenna remembers with deep gratitude the Allied soldiers who came from distant lands and who, with courage and sacrifice helped liberate the city from Nazi-Fascism, paving the way for the rebirth of a free and democratic community.’
Earlier in the day, the monarch planted a tree in the garden of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome where he and his wife have been staying.
This morning, the King was heard making a wry joke about his health as he planted a tree in Rome
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.’
It came as the Vatican released a photograph of the King and Queen’s secret meeting with the Pope on Wednesday.
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.
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 recently 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 while they were in the county anyway.
After leaving Italy yesterday afternoon the couple flew onwards to Scotland where they plan to spend a quiet Easter together – and hopefully celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary quietly together at last.
Earlier today, Camilla arrived at the Italian Parliament in Rome sporting the same elegant ivory Anna Valentine silk coat and dress that she wore for their civil wedding ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall on April 9 2005.
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
This morning, the King was heard making a wry joke about his health as he planted a tree in Rome.
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.
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
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.
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.
The King spent 20 minutes chatting with representatives of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), which offers a conceptual framework for using renewable natural capital
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.
‘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.
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 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
‘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.’
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.
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 picture was taken by Vatican photographers.
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.
Charles then unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion, before pointing at the newly planted tree and saying: ‘Needs a bit of water’
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
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.’
