The King and Queen have arrived in Rome to begin their State Visit to the Holy See, amidst mounting concerns surrounding Prince Andrew’s use of his Royal Lodge residence. Their two-day trip to Vatican City marks Charles and Camilla’s first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election. As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the King is set to make history by being the first British monarch in nearly 500 years to participate in a public service with the Pope, head of the Catholic Church, post the Reformation era. The royal couple’s British Government plane landed at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport after departing from Farnborough Airport.
Upon disembarking the aircraft, they were formally 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 delight at being in Rome, while the King conveyed his pleasure at returning to the city to Archbishop Canalini.
Having visited the Vatican five times previously as the Prince of Wales, Charles has met with three popes: Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, Pope Francis during his visits in 2017, 2019, and 2025, and Pope John Paul II in 1982 during the first-ever papal visit to the UK. The royal visit coincides with ongoing revelations regarding Prince Andrew and his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Amidst scrutiny over Andrew’s use of his expansive Windsor mansion, details from a 2003 lease agreement disclosed that he paid £1 million and an additional £7.5 million for renovations, with a nominal annual rent of ‘one peppercorn (if demanded).’ Questions have arisen about the financial implications for taxpayers as the profits from the Crown Estate are directed to the Treasury. Parliamentary committees are considering investigating the estate’s management of the property, a move endorsed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The proposal to empower the King to strip Andrew of his dukedom was introduced in Parliament, requiring an Act of Parliament for formal removal. A YouGov poll indicated that four out of five Britons support stripping Andrew of his title. The King’s spokesperson emphasized Charles’s anticipation of meeting Pope Leo and the commemorative nature of the visit in fostering unity between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
Scheduled events include a prayer by the King and the Pope at the Sistine Chapel, followed by a visit to St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with historical ties to the English Crown. The royal couple is expected to meet Pope Leo at his official residence, the Apostolic Palace, with Charles engaging Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Buckingham Palace highlighted the visit’s importance in strengthening relationships between Christian communities amid global challenges and the significance of unity in safeguarding nature and promoting harmony.