King Charles and Pope Francis meet in private in Italy  (2025)

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King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla visited Pope Francisprivately on their 20th wedding anniversary yesterday.

The meeting took place at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope has been recovering for more than two weeks since being released from Gemelli Hospital.

The special event happened on day three of Charles and Camilla's four-day State Visit to Italy.

Charles and the Pope are understood to have wished each other well following their personal health battles in recent months.

Buckingham Palace issued a photograph of the meeting on social media, with a post saying: 'Che occasione speciale!

'A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.

'The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person.'

Ths followed a statement released yesterday evening, in which the Holy See Press Office stated: 'Pope Francis met privately with Their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, this afternoon.

'In the course of the meeting, the Pope expressed his best wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and reciprocated His Majesty's wishes for a speedy recovery of his health.'

The Pope's well wishes were a reference to the King's condition following his hospitalisation last month due to the side effects of cancertreatment.

Buckingham Palace confirmed: 'Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla this afternoon had a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.

'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.'

The visit was subject to the Pope's health and only confirmed this morning, it is understood.

The Holy Father issued an invitation to Their Majesties for a private audience, given the official State Visit was postponed because of his ill-health.

A private exchange of gifts took place during the audience, which happened mid-afternoon, after Their Majesties returned from Parliament.

They retired briefly at the Villa Wolkonsky to change outfits and drove to the Vatican, with the meeting lasting around 20 minutes.

In attendance were Their Majesties' Principal Private Secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, and Her Majesty's Deputy Private Secretary, Mrs Belinda Kim.

Sources said discussion about a future official State Visit to the Holy See State Visit continue.

Camilla surprised royal fans today as she chose to rewear her wedding outfit to celebrate her anniversary with Charles.

Her Majesty appeared in the Anna Valentine design, which has been repurposed two decades later by the same designer, for the third-day of the couple's State Visit.

The outfit now features additional embroidery details by the King's Foundation artisan Beth Somerville.

She paired the white gown with a pearl necklace, gold bracelets, her engagement ring and a cream handbag.

Camilla originally donned the stunning outfit for her Guildhall civil ceremony, before changing into a dazzling blue ensemble for the reception.

The Queen's decision to recycle her wedding attire today did not mark the first time she has done so.

In 2007 - a mere two years after her wedding - she broke with tradition by wearing the dress for the openingof the National Assembly for Wales.

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