King Charles III and Queen Camilla are embarking on a State Visit to Italy tomorrow, which is the latest in over a century of British Royal Visits to Italy!
Following the State Visit to Italy in 1903, King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Elena of Italy hosted King George V and Queen Mary on their State Visit to Italy in 1923, which also included the first British State Visit to the Vatican.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Rome and Naples on their State Visit to the Italy in 1961, with a State Banquet in honour of the Queen (in the Vladimir Tiara) at the Qurinale, a performance of Verdi’s Falstaff at the Rome Opera House, and a Return Banquet held by the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara) at the British Embassy in Rome.
The Queen (wearing the Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh also had an Audience with Pope John XXIII at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City during their State Visit to the Vatican.
There was also a State Banquet in honour of the Queen (in the Vladimir Tiara) at the Qurinale on her State Visit to Italy in 1980, which also included a State Visit to Pope John Pal II at the Vatican.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Rome, the Vatican, Milan, Florence, Anzio, and Venice on their visit to Italy in 1985.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh returned to Italy for a State Visit in 2000, with the Queen again wearing the Vladimir Tiara for the State Banquet at the Qurinale.
The Queen also made a visit to the Vatican in 2014, which was one of her last foreign visits.
More recently, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Florence, Vicenza, Naples, Amatrice, and Rome on their six-day visit to Italy in 2017.
Last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales were set to visit Italy in the Spring of 2024 but had to cancel their visit due to the Princess’ cancer diagnosis.
