In an unexpected change of plan, after an official visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla of England to the Vatican was postponed due to Pope Francis’s ongoing recovery from double pneumonia, the royal couple were invited to a private meeting with the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican.
In an April 9 statement, the Vatican said that “Pope Francis met privately with their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, in the afternoon today".
“In the course of the meeting, the Pope was able to congratulate their Majesties on the anniversary of their marriage and he reciprocated his wishes for his Majesty’s speedy recovery of health,” the Vatican said (King Charles has been having treatment for cancer, and recently experienced an adverse reaction to his treatment that required hospital observation).
The meeting came as a surprise, as Buckingham Palace announced on March 25 that a scheduled 8 April visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla to the Vatican had been <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/royal-couple-postpone-vatican-visit-due-to-advice-from-popes-doctors/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">postponed after doctors for the Pope recommended “an extended period of rest and recuperation”</mark></a> following the pontiff's 38-day hospitalisation.
Buckingham Palace, posting on social media, reverted to a spot of Italian and called the surprise visit a <em>Che occasione speciale!</em> (A special moment!).
Pope Francis was hospitalised on Feb. 14 for treatment of a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia, enduring two close brushes with death before being discharged March 23. He is observing a two-month period of rest; however, he continues to work and has begun resuming some meetings.
The Pope’s private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla came after he made a <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/pope-francis-makes-surprise-appearance-at-mass-for-the-sick/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">surprise appearance</mark></a> at the end of Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee for the Sick and Healthcare Workers.
Following Wednesday’s private meeting between the Pope and the royal couple, Buckingham Palace said later that day that the visit “was subject to the Pope’s health” and had only been confirmed that morning.
“The Holy Father issued an invitation to their Majesties for a private audience, given the official State Visit was postponed,” the palace said, adding that the King and Queen returned to the Villa Wolkonsky after their visit to the Italian Parliament and changed outfits before going to the Vatican.
Attending the roughly 20-minute meeting was the main private secretary of their Majesties, Sir Clive Alderton, as well as the Queen’s deputy private secretary, Mrs. Belinda Kim.
A private exchange of gifts took place, the palace said, and “the Pope took the opportunity to wish their Majesties a happy anniversary,” as the visit coincided with their 20th wedding anniversary.
“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 palace said, while noting, “discussions about a Holy See State Visit continue.”
On Wednesday night, the King and Queen attended a state banquet hosted by Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy, at the Quirinale Palace. Constructed in 1583 by Pope Gregory XIII as a summer retreat, it has since housed thirty popes, hosted four conclaves, and is now the official residence of the Italian president.
Guests at the banquet were drawn from Italian and British communities, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/04/09/kings-jokes-leave-italian-politicians-laughing/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a> the <em>Daily Telegraph</em>. The King finished his State banquet address by offering a toast to Rome's special place in the world and to what that means to the UK and Italy.
“Let me propose a toast,” he said, “Here, in the Eternal City – to the friendship between our nations, and the hope that this too may be eternal.”
The King became the first British monarch to speak to both houses of the Italian Parliament. The <em>Daily Telegraph</em> reports that his speech went down well, winning laughter and standing ovations with jokes about biscuits, Roman coins and Italian cuisine.
<em>Photo: Pope Francis holds a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Vatican, Vatican City State, 9 April 2025. (Credit: Vatican Media, via Crux.)</em>
