King Charles' Historic Italy Visit Amid Health Challenges

During their state visit to Italy, King Charles III and Queen Camilla met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, marking their first meeting since Charles became king in 2022. The meeting coincided with the royal couple's 20th wedding anniversary and was initially canceled due to the Pope's hospitalization from pneumonia. Despite health challenges—Charles with cancer and Pope Francis recovering from pneumonia—the visit proceeded with both parties expressing well-wishes for each other's health and exchanging gifts. King Charles also became the first British monarch to address the Italian Parliament, advocating for closer UK-Italy ties and unity in global conflicts. The royal couple's visit included meetings with Italian leaders, fostering diplomatic relations between the countries.