Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
King Charles has his work cut out now with his gift for the twentieth anniversary of his marriage to Queen Camilla after his wife said she was ”humbled” by a present handed over with just hours to go until their big day.
On the eve of the couple’s milestone anniversary, they were given an official welcome to Italy at the start of their first State Visit there as King and Queen. And to mark the moment, the President of Italy made Queen Camilla a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.
As she received the insignia, Her Majesty said she was ”honoured and humbled”.
The honour was presented by Sergio Mattarella as he welcomed his royal guests to the Quirinale Palace.
King Charles made his host a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, telling him that ”it goes back quite a long way”. President Mattarella said he, too, was ”humbled” by the award.
The King became a Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy but kept his thoughts about the gift to himself.
Earlier, King Charles and President Mattarella had inspected a Guard of Honour as the official welcome took place inside the Quirinale courtyard.
The King and Queen then went to the Altare della Patria to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrio.
Their first day in Italy concluded with a visit to the Colosseum where they were greeted by big crowds as they saw one of Rome’s most famous sights.
The three day State Visit will continue in Rome where King Charles and Queen Camilla will spend their wedding anniversary on April 9. However, King Charles is feeling all the pressure after his queen was so impressed by a special gift ahead of their big day.