King Charles and Queen Camilla have been officially welcomed to Italy for their State Visit with a spectacular flypast which they viewed from one of the most famous places in Rome.
The King and Queen watched a stunning airborne display by the Red Arrows and the Frecce Tricolori as they began their three day stay.
(Foto di Paolo Giandotti – Ufficio Stampa per la Stampa e la Comunicazione della Presidenza della Repubblica)
The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter, Laura, stood alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla for the show which took place against bright blue skies and brilliant spring sunshine.
Inside the courtyard of the Quirinale Palace, the official residence of Italy’s president, Their Majesties were greeted by President Mattarella who is always accompanied at major events by his daughter. The Quirinale guards, known as the Corazzieri, provided an escort as the welcome got under way and the national anthems of the United Kingdom and of Italy began proceedings.
(Foto di Paolo Giandotti – Ufficio per la Stampa e la Comunicazione della Presidenza della Repubblica)
King Charles and President Mattarella then inspected a Guard of Honour made up of the Quirinale Band and members of the Italian Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the Carabinieri (police) and Corazzieri.
Queen Camilla and Laura Mattarella then joined The King and the President on the Terrace to enjoy the flypast which left trails of red, white and blue and red, white and green smoke in the air as a nod to the colours on the flags of both the UK and Italy.
(Foto di Paolo Giandotti – Ufficio per la Stampa e la Comunicazione della Presidenza della Repubblica)
As is usual at the start of a State Visit, honours and gifts were exchanged on both sides. Inside the Quirinale Palace, The King joined President Mattarella for talks while The Queen was given a special tour of the Piffetti library as a nod to her passion for promoting literacy.
After the official welcome, King Charles and Queen Camilla headed to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the Altare della Patria where they laid a wreath.
(Foto di Paolo Giandotti – Ufficio per la Stampa e la Comunicazione della Presidenza della Repubblica)
The State Visit to Italy, the first of the reign of Charles III, will include a State Banquet in Rome as well as a visit to Ravenna.
During the trip, Their Majesties will celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary. On arriving in Rome, on the eve of the official visit, they posed for portraits marking their anniversary.
