The royal couple, King and Queen, have commenced their State Visit to the Holy See in Rome amidst mounting controversy surrounding Prince Andrew’s use of his Royal Lodge residence. During their two-day trip to Vatican City, Charles and Camilla are scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV for the first time since his election to office.
In a significant event, the King, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, is set to make history by being the first British monarch in almost 500 years to participate in a public service with the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, since the Reformation. The British Government aircraft carrying Charles and Camilla landed at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport from Farnborough Airport just before 6.30 pm.
Upon disembarking, they were greeted by representatives from the Holy See, including Christopher Trott, Ambassador to the Holy See, Dr. Anabel Inge, Deputy Head of Mission to the Holy See, and Monsignor Javier Domingo Fernández González, Vatican City Head of the Protocol Office. The Queen, clad in a feather print silk dress by Fiona Clare and a brown cashmere trench coat by Anna Valentine, expressed her pleasure at being present, while the King remarked to Archbishop Canalini, “It is wonderful to be able to come back to Rome.”
Having previously visited the Vatican on multiple occasions as the Prince of Wales, Charles has met three popes: Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, Pope Francis in 2017, 2019, and 2025, and Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to the UK in 1982. This visit coincides with ongoing revelations regarding Prince Andrew and his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew recently relinquished his royal titles, including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter, following further claims from his accuser Virginia Giuffre detailed in her posthumous memoir. Giuffre had accused the prince of engaging in sexual activities with her when she was 17 years old. The focus has now shifted to Andrew’s extensive use of his 30-bedroom estate in Windsor, raising questions about the terms of his lease agreement with the Crown Estate.
Parliamentary committees are considering investigating the Crown Estate’s management of the lavish property in Windsor Great Park, with support from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The proposed legislation aims to grant the King the authority to strip Andrew of his dukedom, a move backed by the majority of Britons according to a recent YouGov poll.
In Rome, the King’s spokesman emphasized Charles’s anticipation of meeting Pope Leo, highlighting the visit’s historical significance in strengthening relationships between the Church of England, the Catholic Church, and the UK with the Holy See. The State Visit, postponed from April due to Pope Francis’s health issues, will feature a prayer between the King and the Pope in the Sistine Chapel, followed by engagements at St Paul’s Outside the Walls and the Apostolic Palace.
The King’s visit underscores the importance of unity among Christian communities worldwide in the face of global challenges, promoting harmony and nature conservation. Charles, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, views this State Visit as a symbol of progress in fostering unity across faiths.