A newly released photo has captured the moment King Charles and Queen Camilla met Pope Francis during a private visit to the Vatican on Tuesday, amid ongoing health concerns surrounding the pontiff.
The 20-minute meeting, which took place at Casa Santa Marta, was kept discreet until late Tuesday evening. The royal couple, dressed in traditional black attire in accordance with Vatican protocol, appeared in good spirits as they greeted the Pope, who was seen without the oxygen tube he had been using during his recent public appearance.
Queen Camilla was photographed gently bowing as she greeted the 88-year-old pontiff, while King Charles stood beside her holding a signature red dispatch box. The visit coincided with the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary, a milestone acknowledged warmly by the Pope during the meeting. The two parties also exchanged gifts, as is customary during such high-level visits.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the meeting, stating:
“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 meeting came about following a personal invitation from Pope Francis, whose recent illness had forced the postponement of a previously scheduled state visit. Having returned to the Vatican on March 23, after a five-week hospital stay due to severe pneumonia, the Pope is said to still require at least two months of rest.
His surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday — briefly in a wheelchair and with an oxygen tube — had sparked renewed public concern. However, his ability to meet the King and Queen in person is seen as a reassuring sign of recovery.
Earlier in the day, the monarchs visited the Italian Parliament, before making their way to the Vatican. Later that evening, they attended a state banquet at the Quirinale Palace, joining prominent Italian figures in a glittering celebration of diplomatic ties.
Today, the royal couple is expected to travel to Ravenna, where they will visit the tomb of Dante Alighieri and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the province’s liberation by Allied Forces during World War II.
Discussions reportedly remain ongoing regarding a formal state visit to the Vatican once Pope Francis has fully recovered.
