NEED TO KNOW
- King Charles and Queen Camilla have landed in Italy to start their visit to the Vatican
- The royal couple was scheduled to visit in April, but they postponed the trip due to the poor health of the late Pope Francis
- The King and Queen will meet Pope Leo and attend services in the Sistine Chapel
King Charles and Queen Camilla put the turmoil surrounding Prince Andrew behind them and have arrived in Italy to meet Pope Leo.
The royal couple is making a historic visit to the Vatican to meet the American-born pope and flew into Italy on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Their trip comes after a week of headlines over the King’s brother Andrew, who announced he would no longer use his royal titles and honors over continued scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles, Queen Camilla and their aides will be hoping that the headlines are more about the historic visit. In a first for a British monarch since King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and created the Church of England, which Charles is the titular head of, King Charles will pray publicly with Pope Leo on Thursday, Oct. 23.
It is the second visit to Italy this year for King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78. The couple had hoped to spend time at the Vatican City when they visited Rome in March, but they postponed that element of the trip due to Pope Francis’ poor health. Instead, they were able to see Pope Francis privately and released a picture of the moment.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Rome on Oct. 22, 2025.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88, and King Charles’ son and heir, Prince William, attended his funeral. Pope Leo was elected in the conclave that followed.
During the visit to the Vatican, the King is set to receive a new commemorative seat. The chair, which is seen as a mark of respect from the Pope and the Vatican, is being gifted to the King. He will use it when he is at a service with Queen Camilla at an ancient basilica in the Vatican.
Complete with King Charles’ coat of arms, it will then be permanently left in the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls after the couple has left.
The visit, the palace said as it announced the trip, is a “significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognizing the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ “
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Italy on Oct. 22, 2025.
Arthur Edwards – Pool/Getty
Pope Leo and King Charles will pray together in an ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel.
The royal couple is also set to visit the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, where Charles has been made “Royal Confrater” of the Abbey, a recognition from the Pope of spiritual fellowship. Celebrating that bond is the gift of the special chair for King Charles. It will remain in the apse of the Basilica for future use by the King and his heirs and successors.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Rome on Oct. 22, 2025.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty
The bond between the American pope and the head of the Church of England was underlined when Leo sent a heartfelt message to the British royal family when Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died on Sept. 4 at age 92.
