Buckingham Palace has announced The King and Queen will conduct a State Visit to Italy from 7th to 10th April 2025.
These visit aim to reinforce the strong bilateral relationship between Italy and the United Kingdom. Notably, the visit will coincide with Their Majesties’ 20th wedding anniversary, making the trip particularly significant. The royal couple, who married on 9th April 2005, are expected to mark the occasion with a private celebration while in Italy.
We’ve pulled together an in-depth guide for key events and what we can expect….
A new portrait of The King and Queen. (Royal Family).
What can we expect from the State Visit to Italy?
During Their Majesties’ State Visit to the Republic of Italy, The King and Queen will undertake engagements in Rome and Ravenna, celebrating the strong bilateral relationship between Italy and the United Kingdom.
The visit will be a special moment in the relationship between the two countries when The King will be the first British Monarch to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament. Their Majesties will also attend a State Banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale, hosted by The President of Italy.
Charles and Camilla’s visit will also provide an opportunity to highlight the common cultural heritage shared by Italians and the British. In Rome, Her Majesty will meet school children who have been taking part in a competition to mark the 80th Anniversary of the British Council, describing or imagining a day in the life of their favourite literary characters.
In Ravenna, The King and Queen will view Dante’s tomb and Her Majesty will tour the Byron museum, uncovering the secrets of the great Romantic poet’s life in Italy, and attending a reception for local book clubs, libraries, book shops and representatives from Her Majesty’s charity “The Queen’s Reading Room”. His Majesty will visit the Basilica di San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, viewing their impressive mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries and meeting artisans who are keeping this ancient art form alive.
The state visit comes after King Charles has been undergoing cancer treatment for the past year, leading to a reduction in his public appearances. Despite these challenges, it was previously reported that Charles is set to resume a full programme of overseas engagements this year, as his treatment continues to progress positively. The development followed the King and Queen’s recent tour of Australia and Samoa, which Palace officials have described as a ‘perfect tonic’ for His Majesty. King Charles is said to have genuinely enjoyed the trip, finding great fulfilment in the engagements and the warm reception from the public.
