King Charles III, Head of the Church of England, and Queen Camilla are on a historic State Visit to the Holy See to join Pope Leo XIV to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year in a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, The King and Queen had an Audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in lieu of their cancelled State Visit in April.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were received by Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, with an exchange of gifts and honours.
The King met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, while the Queen viewed the Pauline Chapel, which houses Michaelangelo’s last two frescoes of St Peter and St Paul.
The King and Queen were joined by the Pope for a special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel, focused on the theme of ‘Care for Creation’, reflecting Pope Leo’s and the King’s commitment to the protection of Nature and concern for the environment.
The Queen remained in the Sistine Chapel following the service, to meet the choirs, whilst the King and the Pope joined a meeting on sustainability, in the Sala Regia, reflecting the King’s work over many decades on climate and Nature, as well as Pope Leo’s recognition of the importance of the issues.
British Royal Visits to the Vatican
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
