King Charles and Queen Camilla make surprise visit to Pope at the Vatican as pontiff wishes them happy anniversary
THE King and Queen had a surprise private meeting with the Pope at the Vatican yesterday, Buckingham Palace said.
It follows the postponed State Visit to Vatican City due to Pope Francis' ill health.
A spokesman said: “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 King and Queen were due to have a State Visit to Vatican City but it was postponed due to Pope Francis’s ill health.
The Pope issued invite after State Visit was postponed and they had a private 30 minutes chat this afternoon.
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They exchanged gifts and Pope took the opportunity to wish the King and Queen a Happy Anniversary.
A palace spokesman added: “Their Majesties were delighted The Pope was well enough to host them for a private meeting, and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person.”
The day marked the royal couple's 20 year wedding anniversary with new photos being released to mark the occasion.
They tied the knot at Windsor Guildhall in 2005.
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It follows the King and Queen's action-packed day in Rome on Monday.
The first day of their state visit saw eight hours of engagements in the Italian spring heat.
Beginning with a spectacular flypast by the Red Arrows, Charles and Camilla posed at the 2,000 year old Colosseum.
Charles, receiving cancer treatment for more than a year, walked the 44 steps with Camilla to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
They then shook hands with well-wishers who queued up to welcome them.
Charles and Camilla stood with President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura at the Quirinale Palace balcony as they watched the aerobatics displays.
Speaking through an interpreter, Charles told his host: “This is my 18th visit here.”
The President warmly replied: “And I remember having you here at the Quirinale before on your visits to Rome.”
The King and Queen both received the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy and Charles then presented Mr Mattarella, 83, with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
Charles said: “It goes back quite a long way. It’s just a token, really, of our appreciation, you’ve served for so long.”
The trip had originally been scaled back due to the Pope’s ill-health, with the State visit to Vatican City postponed.
However, the 88-year-old greeted a crowd at St Peters Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick on Sunday.
Crowds of worshippers gathered at the square to celebrate the mass, with no-one there expecting the pontiff to make an appearance.
Heart-warming footage showed the crowd cheering as a beaming Pope Francis was rolled in in a wheelchair.
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The pontiff can be seen lifting his hands to wave at the crowd as he is rolled to the front of the altar.
The Pope said in a strong voice: "Good Sunday to everyone. Thank you very much."
