After the Visit to the Holy See was cancelled due to the Pope recovering from a period illness, King Charles and Queen Camilla held a private meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.
A Buckingham Palace official said that ‘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!’
King Charles and Queen Camilla met the Pope. (Royal Family)
A photograph was released via the Palace and Vatican of Their Majesties with the Pope at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, which was taken yesterday afternoon.
A statement accompanying the photograph said that the moment was special for King Charles and Queen Camilla, with the couple being ‘deeply touched by The Pope’s kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their best wishes to him in person’.
The King meeting Pope Francis previously. (Clarence House)
King Charles III and Pope Francis have met on several notable occasions, reflecting a relationship marked by mutual respect and shared concerns.
As Prince of Wales, Charles, accompanied by the then-Duchess of Cornwall, met Pope Francis at the Vatican in April 2017. This visit was part of a broader European tour, during which they discussed topics of mutual interest, including environmental issues and interfaith dialogue.
In October 2019, Prince Charles attended the canonisation ceremony of Cardinal John Henry Newman at the Vatican. During this visit, he had an audience with Pope Francis, underscoring the significance of Cardinal Newman’s sainthood for both the Anglican and Catholic communities.
