King Charles and Queen Camilla have touched down in Italy, putting recent family drama behind them as they embark on a historic visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo.
The royal couple arrived Wednesday evening, October 22, at Ciampino Airport, where they were warmly welcomed by the British Ambassador to the Holy See, Christopher Trott, and Monsignor González, head of Vatican Protocol. From there, they headed to Villa Wolkonsky, a grand 19th-century residence now serving as the British ambassador’s home.
This trip comes amid a week of intense headlines surrounding King Charles’s brother, Prince Andrew, who recently announced he would step back from using his royal titles amid ongoing scrutiny over his controversial ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. For the King and Queen, this visit is an opportunity to shift focus back to a historic milestone — one that hasn’t been seen since King Henry VIII’s break from the Catholic Church centuries ago.
On Thursday, October 23, King Charles will join Pope Leo in a public prayer service, marking the first time a British monarch has prayed publicly with a pope since the Church of England was established, with Charles as its Supreme Governor. The moment underscores growing efforts toward unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, highlighting this Jubilee year’s theme of “walking together as pilgrims of hope.”
This isn’t the first time the royal couple has been in Italy this year. They visited Rome in March but postponed their Vatican visit due to Pope Francis’s declining health. Instead, they had a private audience with him and shared a touching photo of the meeting. Following Pope Francis’s passing in April, King Charles’s son, Prince William, attended the funeral. Pope Leo was elected shortly after.
As part of their Vatican visit, King Charles will receive a special commemorative chair from Pope Leo — a rare and symbolic gesture of respect. The chair, adorned with Charles’s coat of arms, will be used during their service at the ancient Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls and will remain there permanently for Charles and his successors to use.
The King has also been named a “Royal Confrater” of the Abbey, an honor recognizing the spiritual fellowship between the British monarchy and the Catholic Church.
The connection between Pope Leo, an American-born pontiff, and King Charles was further highlighted when the Pope sent a heartfelt message of condolence to the royal family after the recent death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent.
This historic visit is not only a diplomatic milestone but also a hopeful step toward healing centuries-old divisions between two great religious institutions, with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the way.
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