by InTrieste
Despite a recent health setback, Britain’s King Charles is set to move forward with his highly anticipated state visit to Italy next month. The royal engagement, which will include a historic address to Italy’s parliament, is scheduled for April 9, with the king set to speak before both houses of the Italian parliament in a joint session.
This landmark event will make King Charles the first British monarch to address the Italian parliament. His speech, set for 14:50 local time, will be delivered in the chamber of Montecitorio and will follow remarks from Italy’s political leaders, including the presidents of the lower house and the senate, Lorenzo Fontana and Ignazio La Russa, respectively. Queen Camilla will also be in attendance for the 25-minute ceremony, according to reports from Italian media.
British Ambassador to Italy Edward Llewellyn confirmed last week that the king will speak in Italian during his address, reflecting the deep cultural ties between the two nations.
Health Update and Royal Engagements
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles, 76, had experienced a temporary health setback, requiring a brief hospital visit after experiencing side effects from ongoing cancer treatment. The royal had to cancel a planned tour of Birmingham the following day, though palace sources reassured the public that the issue was “a most minor bump in the road” and that his recovery was progressing well.
Despite this health concern, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the state visit to Italy, scheduled for April 7-10, will continue as planned, with no changes to the core itinerary.
Vatican Visit Scrapped
One notable alteration to the itinerary, however, involves a planned visit to the Vatican. Initially set to be a part of the royal tour, the Vatican engagement has been cancelled after Pope Francis was advised by his doctors to rest for an extended period following a recent battle with double pneumonia. Buckingham Palace confirmed the cancellation was “by mutual agreement” and stated that the royal party would instead focus on engagements in Rome and Ravenna during the visit.
A Celebration of Shared Values
The state visit is expected to underscore the strong historical, cultural, and political ties between the UK and Italy. Among the highlights of the trip will be meetings with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, who will host a state banquet in honor of the British royals on April 9.
Military cooperation between the two nations will also be celebrated, with a joint flypast over Rome involving the UK’s Red Arrows and Italy’s Frecce Tricolori jets. The king and queen will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring the sacrifices of both countries’ armed forces.
This state visit, though marred by the Pope’s health and the king’s temporary health issue, is poised to be a significant event in reinforcing the enduring relationship between Britain and Italy.
