Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
King Charles and Queen Camilla popped in to see the Pope who congratulated them as they marked their twentieth wedding anniversary.
Buckingham Palace revealed that Pope Francis had exchanged warm words with the couple on their special day and said The King and Queen were ”deeply touched” by his remarks.
The private meeting between King Charles, Queen Camilla and Pope Francis was a surprise as a planned State Visit to the Vatican had to be put on hold after the Pontiff was treated in hospital for double pneumonia earlier this year.
When The King and Queen’s State Visit to Italy was announced, details of a State Visit to the Holy See were also confirmed. However, due to the Pope’s ongoing health issues, that State Visit was postponed to a later date. However, all three were still able to meet privately on April 9, the day The King and Queen marked twenty years of marriage.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were able to pay a private visit to Pope Francis, 88. They visited him at his home at Casa Santa Maria, a guest house that is adjacent to the Vatican.
Buckingham Palace released a statement later on Wednesday, sharing that the visit went well. 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”.
His Holiness spent five weeks in a hospital in Rome where he was treated for pneumonia in both lungs. When he left the hospital on 23 March, it was announced that he would need at least two months of rest but may need more.
The King and Queen have had a State Visit to Italy. The King has addressed both houses of the Italian parliament while Queen Camilla has visited local schools. There’s also been a trip to the Colosseum.
After their meeting with the Pope, King Charles and Queen Camilla ended their wedding anniversary at a glittering State Banquet in the Quirinale Palace, hosted by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter, Laura.
The State Visit to Italy will come to a close on April 10 when King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Ravenna.