King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s State Visit to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this week is the latest in over a century of British Royal Visits to the Vatican. Despite the centuries old schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, over the past century, the British Monarchs, Heads of the Church of England, have made several impactful visits to the Holy See!
The visit will mark Their Majesties’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025. It will mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognising the ecumenical work they have undertaken and reflecting the Jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. In the first such occasions in many centuries, the Pope and The King will pray together in a unique ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel, and His Majesty, accompanied by The Queen, will attend a further ecumenical service in the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
Their Majesties’ Programme in detail:
The King and Queen will meet Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace, following which, His Majesty will meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State. Meanwhile Her Majesty will view the Pauline Chapel, which houses Michaelangelo’s last two frescoes of St Peter and St Paul.
Their Majesties and the Pope will then attend a special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, focused on the theme of ‘Care for Creation’, reflecting Pope Leo’s and His Majesty’s commitment to the protection of Nature and concern for the environment. The Children of the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal and the Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, will sing during the service, accompanied by the Sistine Chapel Choir. Her Majesty will remain in the Sistine Chapel following the service, to meet the choirs, whilst The King and the Pope join a meeting on sustainability, in the Sala Regia, reflecting His Majesty’s work over many decades on climate and Nature, as well as Pope Leo’s recognition of the importance of the issues. Once The Queen has met the choirs, Her Majesty will rejoin The King and the Pope, to meet the guests in the Sala Regia, before bidding farewell to the Pope and departing the Apostolic Palace.
Following the visit to the Holy See, in an historic step, His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty, will also visit the Papal Basilica and Abbey of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. His Majesty has agreed to the suggestion that he become ‘Royal Confrater’ of the Abbey. This gift of ‘confraternity’ is a recognition of spiritual fellowship.
In further celebration of this new bond, the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls has created a special seat for His Majesty, which will remain in the Basilica as a perpetual mark of mutual respect between Pope Leo and His Majesty as Heads of State. The special chair is decorated with The King’s Coat of Arms. The King will use this chair during the service, after which it will remain in the apse of the Basilica for future use by His Majesty and his heirs and successors.
Following the St Paul’s Outside the Walls visit, The King will attend a reception at The Pontifical Beda College, a seminary which trains priests from across the Commonwealth, meeting students and members of the British and Vatican community. Meanwhile, Her Majesty will meet six Catholic Sisters from The International Union of Superiors General, who are working around the world at grassroots level to support female empowerment, through girls’ education programmes, improved access to healthcare, climate action, peace building and tackling sexual violence and human trafficking.
King George V and Queen Mary met Pope Pius XI at the Vatican while on a State Visit to Italy in 1923.
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh met Pope Pius XII on a visit to the Vatican in 1951.
The Queen Mother (in the Greville Tiara) and Princess Margaret (wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara) met Pope John XXIII on their visit to the Vatican in 1959.
The Queen (wearing the Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh had an Audience with Pope John XXIII at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on their State Visit to the Vatican in 1961, during their State Visit to Italy.
The Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh met Pope John Paul II at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City during their State Visit to the Vatican in 1980.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, in the midst of their visit to Italy in 1985.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh met Pope John Paul II again in 2000, during a State Visit to Italy.
The Prince of Wales delayed his wedding by a day to attend the Funeral of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2005.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh met Pope Francis on a visit to the Vatican in April 2014, which was one of her last foreign visits.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall met Pope Francis at the Vatican on their six-day visit to Italy in 2017.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla had an Audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in lieu of their cancelled State Visit to the Vatican on April 9th, in the midst of their State Visit to the Republic of Italy.
The Prince of Wales represented Britain at the Funeral of Pope Francis, while the Duke of Edinburgh attended the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
The Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Greville Tiara
Delhi Durbar Tiara
Cubitt-Shand Tiara
Queen’s Five Aquamarine Tiara
George IV State Diadem
Queen Mary’s Crown
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
King George VI Festoon Necklace
Wouldn’t it be great if Queen Camilla went for something similar in the way of the late Queen’s outfit here? A grand tiara would be so elegant, and as we have seen in the past Queen Camilla wears the larger tiaras in the British collection so well.
Alas, as expected no tiara for Queen Camilla when meeting the Pope. I was actually not a big fan of the headpiece this time (I normally like the hats worn by Queen Camilla). It would have looked so much better with a Diamond tiara… white Diamonds against the black mantilla would have looked amazing.
I agree. I do think she was trying to stimulate a Tiara with that headdress but I was not a fan. I think it is better to embrace the formality and stand out on an occasion like that rather than be underwhelming