The King and the Pope have met at the Vatican.
Charles III was welcomed by Leo XIV in an historic meeting at the Holy See.
King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, is making an historic State Visit to the Vatican to mark the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year – one is held every quarter of a century.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, shook hands with The King and Queen before exchanging gifts with Their Majesties.
The Pope received a relic of Edward the Confessor. The King and Queen were given scale version of the mosaic of ‘Christ Pantocrator’, in the Norman Cathedral of Cefalù, in Sicily. It was made in the Vatican.
Earlier, The King and Queen were greeted by Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Reverend Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza as they arrived at the Vatican. They were driven into San Damaso Square where a guard of honour made up of the Swiss Guard was waiting.
The national anthem was played as King Charles and Queen Camilla stood on the red carpet.
They then went inside the Vatican where the meeting with Pope Leo took place.
The State Visit was postponed from earlier this year after Pope Francis became ill. The late Pontiff did meet The King and Queen when they went to Rome for a State Visit in early April and he blessed them on the occasion of their twentieth wedding anniversary.
Pope Francis died on April 21st 2025 and Prince William travelled to the Vatican, on behalf of The King, to attend his funeral.
