Queen Camilla is vibrant in bright green dress – as she and King Charles enjoy glitzy evening reception during trip to Italy

The King and Queen joked about ageing and said they enjoyed ‘any excuse be in Italy’ as they attended a lively reception for the British-Italian community in Rome this evening.

Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, met people from business, industry, recipients of honours, realm ambassadors, U.N. diplomats and representatives from the arts and culture, military and defence, and education and youth sectors over drinks in the garden of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence, which the government bought in 1951.

Ambassador Lord Llewellyn and his wife, Anne Charbord, hosted them for the evening. where they were also joined by foreign secretary David Lammy and his wife Nicola Green, and the UK ambassador to the Holy See, Chris Trott.

The reception began with the national anthem played by a brass band as Charles and Camilla, wearing a pretty green silk crepe Anna Valentine dress, stood at the top of steps leading down into the garden.

After the national anthem, they joined the 150 guests including William Blacker the author of Along the Enchanted Way: A Story of Love and Life in Romania. Blacker, who has known Charles for many years and shares his interest in Transylvania, was joined at the reception by his son, Valentin Palffy, 19, a student in Rome and aspiring actor who first met Charles during a visit to Bucharest when he was 11, and was photographed hugging him.

‘It was wonderful and a miracle for me to see him again after all these years,’ said Palffy. ‘I’ve always found him an inspiring character since meeting him all those years ago.’

Another guest told Charles: ‘I first met you in Brussels many years ago, we both had brown hair then,’ to which Charles jokingly replied, pointing to his white hair: ‘Didn’t we all.’

Lord Llewellyn also introduced the King to some of the embassy staff who have been working on the royal visit. He told them: ‘I’m so sorry you had to be put to all this effort, but thank you.’

The royal couple looked to be in high spirits as they enjoyed a glitzy evening reception, after arriving in Italy for their four-day visit last night.

Camilla added a pop of colour in a bright green dress – accessorising with a stunning brooch that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

She and Charles grinned as they mingled with members of the British community in the Mediterranean nation, hosted at the stunning Villa Wolkonsky, where the royal couple are staying, in Rome.

The monarch, meanwhile, opted for a casual yet elegant blue pinstripe suit, perfect for the warm evening. 

Appearing to pay homage to her mother-in-law, Camillla pinned a diamond-set Celtic knot design surrounding a cabochon emerald, a royal heirloom dating back centuries. 

The brooch belonged to Queen Mary of Teck after it was given to her as a wedding gift from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1893, when she married the future King George V. 

It made another public appearance the following year, as the late monarch wore it for an audience with the Secretary General of the United Nationals in Malta in November 2015. 

She even wore it in one of her final public appearances in July 2022, when she bestowed the George Cross on the NHS. 

It comes following a day packed with activity, as the King and Queen were formally welcomed to Italy this morning with full pomp and ceremony – and a stunning city-wide flypast in the capital.

Their Majesties’ received a ceremonial welcome at the Quirinale Palace from the President of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Signor Sergio Mattarella.

He was accompanied by his daughter, Signora Laura Mattarella, who acts as the windowed president’s First Lady.

Charles and Camilla were escorted by mounted Quirinale (Corazzieri) Guards as they arrived for the first major event of their historic four-day state visit, their first as King and Queen.

The British and Italian National Anthems were played as the Union Jack flag was raised on the turret of the iconic palazzo.

President Mattarella, 83, then invited His Majesty to inspect the Guard of Honour in the courtyard, consisting of the Quirinale Band, Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri and mounted Corazzieri Guards. Her Majesty remained chatting with Signora Mattarella, 58.

At the end of the courtyard, The King and President Mattarella, rejoined by Her Majesty and Signora Laura, proceeded into the Palace and onto the terrace to view a stunning flypast of the Frecce Tricolori and Red Arrows in a show of bilateral defence unity, a key theme of the visit.

The Frecce Tricolori issued red, white and green smoke, while the Red Arrows emitted red, white and blue smoke. 

Following the flypast, the King and Queen returned inside the palace, escorted by President Mattarella and Signora Laura, where Their Majesties and the President presented their official delegations.

This included Foreign Secretary David Lammy and His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Italy and San Marino, The Baron Llewellyn of Steep.

The President then presented the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Inigo Lamberini, Secretary General of the Quirinale, Ugo Zampetti and Diplomatic Counsellor to the President, Ambassador Fabio Cassese.

‘We are very lucky to have him,’ the King said of Mr Lambertini, the Italian ambassador to the UK whom he has met previously. 

The King and the President then posed for a photograph in front of the flags of both countries before a private meeting with the Queen and Laura in the President’s study, known as the Sala dei Colloqui.

Speaking through an interpreter, Charles told his host: ‘This is my 18th visit here.’ ‘And I remember having you here at the Quirinale before on your visits to Rome,’ replied the President.

After around 20 minutes of private conversation, the President presented honours to the royal couple.

The King received the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit and presented the President with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

‘It goes back quite a long way,’ said the monarch. ‘It’s just a token really of our appreciation, you’ve served for so long.’ ‘I’m humbled, your Majesty,’ he replied.

Signora Laura and Camilla then departed to view a selection of antique books on horsemanship in the Biblioteca del Piffetti and tour the State Rooms of the 16th Century palace, where they chatted to staff preparing for tomorrow’s State Banquet and carrying out repairs on tapestries and furniture.

The President and his daughter and the King and Queen were reunited to say their farewells in the Palace’s Sala del Bronzino, which is hung with magnificent tapestries designed by the Florentine artist Bronzino.

Queen Camilla was wearing a blue silk crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare as well as a diamond and sapphire brooch that originally belonged to Queen Victoria for the outing.

Palermo-born Sergio Mattarella is Italy’s longest-serving President. He was first elected in January 2015 and again in January 2022.

He lost his wife Marisa to cancer in 2012 and since becoming President, has been accompanied by his daughter, known as Signora Laura, at official events.

Charles and Camilla are due to undertake a busy programme of 19 engagements over four days, flying the flag for Britain abroad and highlighting key issues including defence cooperation, trade and culture.

Meanwhile, no trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Colosseum, one of the seven wonders of the world.

Which is why, even on a busy day, the King and Queen went to view the iconic amphitheatre, Camilla marvelling at the breath-taking sight of one of the Roman world’s most famous surviving structures.

Although the timing of their visit had not been publicised in advance, huge crowds gathered, cheering, with school children excitedly shouting ‘He’s coming, that’s the King!’ as they spotted the police convoy make its way into the grounds of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum.

As they stepped out of the State Bentley, which has been brought to Italy for the duration of the four-day state visit, King Charles, 76, turned to wave to the flag-waving crowds.

The royal couple were received by the Minister of Culture Mr Alessandro Giuli and Director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, Ms Alfonsina Russo but they quickly made a beeline for the hundreds of people gathered to see them.

As they spent 10 minutes shaking hands with the public, which included dozens of pupils from nearby schools, the bands of the Welsh Guards and the Sassari Brigade Band played a series of tunes – including the theme song from the film Gladiator, set during the Roman Empire and featuring spectacular fight scenes at the Colosseum.

The joint musical initiative had been designed to highlight close military and defence links between Britain and Italy, one of the key themes of the visit.

Ahead of their arrival, Imogen Brown, 12 and Nancy Douglas, 12, from St George’s British International School said they were ‘really excited’ to see the King and Queen,

‘We only found who we would be meeting this morning,’ Nancy said. ‘They told us yesterday that we were meeting someone special and this morning on the bus our teachers told us it was the King and Queen.’

Imogen added: ‘I was really shocked that he [the King] wanted to see us and go to the Colosseum.’

Accompanied by a large entourage that included Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the King and Queen then proceeded up the stairs to the Colosseum viewing platform, on the edge of the Temple of Venus and Rome – the largest and most splendid of Rome’s temples, designed by Hadrian.

They turned to wave to the huge crowd below before posing for photographs in front of the elliptical amphitheatre that was stood in the heart of Rome for nearly 2,000 years.

Speaking moments later with a group of archaeologists, the Queen remarked: ‘The views are beautiful, beautiful.’

Dr Barbara Nazzaro, the Architect of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, then discussed the restoration works that they have been doing in the park, which currently centres on the underground passages on the arena floor.

The pair then met representatives from Rome-based community organisations including MO.D.A.V.I., an association founded in the city in 1996 to address the problem of drug addiction; Peter Pan Odv, an Italian non-profit organisation that provides accommodation and a range of free services to families that come to Rome from across Italy and from abroad to access cancer treatment for children and Differenza Donna, an Italian N.G.O.s supporting women who are victims of domestic violence and of human trafficking.

Popular Italian TV presenter and historian Alberto Angela was then introduced to the King and Queen, who explained more about Rome’s history and restoration while overlooking the Roman Forum, ruins of important ancient government buildings located a stones throw away from the Colosseum.

‘Still today, it looks impressive,’ the King and Queen were told, as they both nodded in agreement and marvelled at the archaeological site below.

They listened intently as Mr Angela explained how the once bustling heart of ancient Rome was largely destroyed by a major earthquake in the 9th century that cause significant damage to the buildings.

Before they were ushered towards the waiting convoy of vehicles by their security team, the King told Mr Angela that the restoration work that has been carried out was ‘brilliant’, while the Queen said: ‘It was lovely to be able to see this today.’

The Colosseum Archaeological Park is one of the most-visited sites in the world and includes the iconic Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine with the Meta Sudans and the Domus Aurea.