The King and Queen attended a dazzling State Banquet tonight in their honour – with a little squeeze for the cameras – as they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
The couple joined guests including Andrea Bocelli, Rocco Forte, Paul Smith, Giorgio Locatelli and Brunello Cuccinelli at the Palazzo Quirinale, the official residence of the Italian President.
Queen Camila, 77, wore a green lace gown by Fiona Clare, with a glittering turquoise and diamond necklace that belonged to her own adored mother, Mrs Rosalind Shand. The King wore a black tie with his UK Order of Merit neck order and the OMRI (Italian Order of Merit) star with a selection of British Orders, Realm and Jubilee medals.
Their Majesties were received by President Mattarella’s Aide-de-Camp, General Marco Nasi. After posing for photographs, they proceeded up the staircase to the Sala del Brustolon, where they were welcomed by the President of the Italian Republic, President Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter, Signora Laura Mattarella.
In the Salone dei Corazzieri, President Mattarella introduced the Quirinale Head of Protocol, Mrs. Cinzia Raimondi and State Banquet guests.
Their Majesties then entered the Salone delle Feste – Hall of Festivities – in procession. At the start of the Banquet, President Mattarella will deliver a toast. His Majesty will then also deliver a toast, in response.
In an exchange of gifts the King and Queen gave a set of four volumes by Thomas Nugent ‘The Grand Tour, or, a journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France’, a signed photograph and a brooch bearing their cypher.
Guests dined on vegetables from the presidential gardens, bottoni pasta with aubergine caponata, sea bass in a salt crust, roast potatoes, fried artichokes and courgette flowers with fiordilatte cream and raspberries for desert.
The King and Queen attended a dazzling State Banquet tonight in their honour – with a little squeeze for the cameras – as they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary
The couple joined guests including Andrea Bocelli , Rocco Forte, Paul Smith, Giorgio Locatelli and Brunello Cuccinelli at the Palazzo Quirinale, the official residence of the Italian President
Queen Camila, 77, wore a green lace gown by Fiona Clare, with a glittering turquoise and diamond necklace that belonged to her own adored mother, Mrs Rosalind Shand. The King wore a black tie with his UK Order of Merit neck order and the OMRI (Italian Order of Merit) star with a selection of British Orders, Realm and Jubilee medals
It comes as earlier today, the King made the Italian Parliament roar with laughter this afternoon – after his speech was accidentally cut off early.
The monarch had his guests’ rap attention as he delivered a moving message of unity to political representatives.
However, the ardent address featured a moment of levity as attendees stood up and clapped while President of the Chamber of Deputies, President Lorenzo Fontana, accidentally thought it had concluded – but a baffled Charles, 76, was not done.
‘I’m nearly finished,’ the royal quipped, after getting the giggles, as he wrapped up the delivery, earning chuckles from those in the audience.
His speech warned that peace was ‘never to be taken for granted’.
Referring to the United Kingdom and Italy’s joint support for Ukraine, as well as the bravery of civilian Italian resistance fighters in the Second World War, he said: ‘Today, sadly, the echoes of those times – which we fervently hoped had been consigned to history – reverberate across our continent.
In an exchange of gifts the King and Queen gave a set of four volumes by Thomas Nugent ‘The Grand Tour, or, a journey through the Netherlands , Germany , Italy and France ’, a signed photograph and a brooch bearing their cypher
The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, made a dapper entrance in a velvet blazer, as he and his wife made their way for the evening’s festivities
David and his wife, Nicola Green, made a striking entrance for the state banquet held in Rome this evening
The couple were among many distinguished guests at the event being held this evening in Rome
Political VIPs, as well as A-listers from various industries including the arts, were spotted arriving
The British Ambassador to Italy, Lord Edward Llewellyn, and his wife Anne Charborarrive pictured arriving the Quirinale Presidential Palace
Among the A-listers in attendance are musical legend Andrea Bocelli (right, with his wife) as well as fashion designer Paul Smith
Luxury fashion brand owner Brunello Cucinelli, centre, was among those in attendance at the event
Pictured: John Elkann and Lavinia Borromeo attending the state banquet, hosted at the Palazzo Quirinale
Designer Paul Smith pictured at the event, which is hosted by Italy’s president Sergio Mattarella
Paul and hotelier Rocco Forte (right) sported very dapper ensembles as they made their way to the banquet
Pictured: Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and his wife Gaia Saponaro were in attendance
The royals’ third day is concluding with a glittering dinner in Rome’s historic presidential residence
The King made the Italian Parliament roar with laughter this afternoon – after his speech was accidentally cut off early
As he and Queen Camilla, 77, enjoyed the third-day of their four-day visit to the European nation – including a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – the monarch also delivered a message of unity to political representatives
‘Our younger generations can now see in the news every day on their smartphones and tablets that peace is never to be taken for granted. Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share.
‘Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need – and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter. Our Armed Forces stand side by side in NATO. We are grateful beyond measure for the role Italy plays in hosting key NATO bases and taking a leading role in so many overseas operations.’
He highlighted imminent plans by the Royal Navy to undertake a major exercise in the Mediterranean with Italian forces as ‘a powerful symbol of our cooperation’.
And he praised a joined British, Italian and Japanese air combat programme to build ‘our next generation fighter aircraft’. He added: ‘We will remember the terrible price of war – and of the precious gift of peace.‘
The King was the first British monarch to be invited to give a speech to the joint session of the Italian parliament with representatives from both the Upper and Lower House and only the fourth non-Italian to have addressed the chamber from the President’s Podium.
He switched easily between English and Italian, earning him warm applause from his audience, with his wife watching from the ‘Benches of Nine’. Describing himself as ‘enormously touched’ to have been asked he said the gesture was all the more special on their 20th wedding anniversary.
However, the moving address featured a moment of levity as attendees stood up and clapped while President of the Chamber of Deputies, President Lorenzo Fontana, accidentally thought it had concluded – but a baffled Charles, 76, was not done
‘I’m nearly finished,’ the royal quipped, after getting the giggles, as he wrapped up the delivery, earning chuckles from those in the audience
‘So I am here today with one purpose: to reaffirm the deep friendship between the United Kingdom and Italy, and to pledge to do all in my power to strengthen that friendship even further in the time that is granted to me as King.’
‘Italy is, as I hope you know a country very dear to my heart and that of The Queen – as it is to so many of our countrymen and women,’ he added. ‘I have made eighteen official visits over the past forty years to the Belpaese. It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a little more about this nation and have come to admire it even more.
‘Like any old friend, I have been with you at happier moments and sadder moments in your national life. For instance, I will never forget my visit to Venice with The Queen in 2009, where we saw the magnificently restored La Fenice Opera House – or to Amatrice in 2017, in the aftermath of that tragic earthquake.
Emphasising the close links between the two countries, he raised a laugh saying: ‘Our ties go back over two millennia – to those ancient Roman visitors who arrived on our windswept shores. It was the Romans who gave Britons the idea of putting a King’s head on coins – so I am especially grateful to them…
‘And we have benefitted hugely from your influence over what we wear, what we drink and what we eat. I can only hope you will forgive us for occasionally corrupting your wonderful cuisine! We do so with the greatest possible affection…’
And notably, given how clear the government has been that the State Visit is, in part, about ‘re-setting’ Britain’s relationships with its European neighbours following the Brexit vote, the King added: ‘So we are two peoples, and two nations, whose stories are deeply intertwined – including, of course, with that of our European continent. We are both, after all, European countries.’
Emphasising this he described the ‘common denominator, one golden thread, our greatest asset’ running through the relationship – ‘our people’.
‘It is our citizens, and especially our young people, who are adding, piece by piece, to the intricate mosaic that makes up the relationship between our countries,’ he said.
He switched easily between English and Italian, earning him warm applause from his audience, with his wife watching from the ‘Benches of Nine’. Describing himself as ‘enormously touched’ to have been asked he said the gesture was all the more special on their 20th wedding anniversary
‘Our business ties are flourishing – from green power to life sciences, from aerospace to services.
‘The U.K. is the fifth largest investor in Italy and last year Italy was the U.K.’s sixth largest source of foreign direct investment projects – figures which speak for themselves.
‘Our cultures continue to have a huge impact on each other.’
He added: ‘Italy will always be in my heart. Just as my beloved mother never forgot her wonderful twenty-fifth birthday at Tivoli in 1951….’
Quoting Italy’s iconic Dante, he added: ‘Our two countries stand at different ends of the European continent. Ours a collection of windswept islands, yours a sun-drenched peninsula. Different in so many ways. But we have found, I believe, over the years that those differences complement each other rather well. That has been true in centuries past. And it is emphatically true today.
‘Let that be the spirit in which our two nations come together to approach the future. Confident – whatever the challenges and uncertainties we inevitably face as nations and in our neighbourhood, now and in the future – that we can, and we will, overcome them together.
‘And when we have done so, we may echo Dante and say: ‘e quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.’[And so we came forth, and once again beheld the stars’.
In his speech, Charles – pictured meeting supporters with Camilla – said that ‘Italy will always be in my heart’
The Queen, pictured being given an Italian ice cream, beamed as she and her husband briefly chatted with wellwishers
Camilla couldn’t hide her smile as she was presented with a sweet treat in Rome, during their state visit
Emphasising the close links between the two countries, he raised a laugh saying: ‘Our ties go back over two millennia – to those ancient Roman visitors who arrived on our windswept shores. It was the Romans who gave Britons the idea of putting a King’s head on coins – so I am especially grateful to them…’
Pictured: Charles and Camilla posing for a photo with the President of the Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana (right) at the Italian Parliament
King Charles shared a joke with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he enjoyed a tour of historic villa during state visit to Rome on Wednesday
The pair enjoyed a lively conversation during their first official meeting, taking a tour of the gardens and Baroque architecture of the Villa Doria Pamphili
The pair greeted one another warmly, laughing and gesticulating throughout their time in the 17th century countryside palace with views over Rome and the Vatican
They appeared to find common ground while talking about the garden, which including neat mazes and a fountain
The palace is used as a venue for hosting honoured guests, with the Casino del Bel Respiro described as a Baroque-style building originally built to house the Pamphilj Family’s art collection
It is the first time the King has met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as he spent the morning of his 20th wedding anniversary with her on the outskirts of Rome
Queen Rania of Jordan was also in attendance and met the Prime Minister dressed in a form-fitting long-sleeved burgundy dress with matching Mary Jane style patent heels
The King also spent time inside the building, where he presented members of his delegation, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured left) and Ambassador Baron Llewellyn of Steep, and met their Italian counterparts
Before the King departed in the State Bentley, he shook hands with Prime Minister Meloni, who wore a cream suit and white heels, one more time and appeared to thank her for the morning
Earlier in the day, Charles shared a joke with Italian Prime Minister Girogia Meloni as he enjoyed a tour of historic villa during state visit to Rome on Wednesday
The pair paused for a photograph at the entrance of Casino del Bel Respiro, before making their way around the ornate white building to the large manicured gardens behind.
There, speaking in English, the Prime Minister appeared to point out points of artistic or architectural interest, with the King visibly interested in seeing them.
They spent a few moments in front of the fountain, where the Prime Minister – who is fluent in Italian, French and Spanish – laughed at one of the King’s jokes as he pointed towards the maze.
It is the first time the King has met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as he spent the morning of his 20th wedding anniversary with her on the outskirts of Rome.
The palace is used as a venue for hosting honoured guests, with the Casino del Bel Respiro described as a Baroque-style building originally built to house the Pamphilj Family’s art collection.
The King was welcomed onto the red carpet for his first engagement of the third day of the State visit to Rome.
He shook hands with Italy’s first female Prime Minister welcomed on a red carpet and invited to inspect the Guards drawn from the Italian army cavalry.
They then took a seat inside a small, white stone room, looking towards the garden views outside and making small talk as they waited for official photographs to be taken before enjoying private bi-lateral talks.
Meanwhile Queen Camilla greeted students at an excited Italian state school this morning with a cheery ‘buongiorno’ dressed in a navy and white spotted dress by Fiona Clare
Arriving at the first, brightly-decorated classroom, Her Majesty joined children having an English lesson and greeted them with good morning in Italian
Afterwards she was given questions to ask the children about Paddington including: ‘Who is your favourite charterer in Paddington?’
The King also spent time inside the building, where he presented members of his delegation, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Ambassador Baron Llewellyn of Steep, and met their Italian counterparts.
Queen Rania of Jordan was also in attendance and met the Prime Minister dressed in a form-fitting long-sleeved burgundy dress with matching Mary Jane style patent heels.
Before the King departed in the State Bentley, he shook hands with Prime Minister Meloni, who wore a cream suit and white heels, one more time and appeared to thank her for the morning.
The King spent 50 minutes at Villa Doria Pamphili, before departing for his second engagement.
Meanwhile Queen Camilla greeted students at an excited Italian state school this morning with a cheery ‘buongiorno’.
Demonstrating her ‘rudimentary’ knowledge of Italian, Camilla, 77, toured the Istituto Comprensivo Alessandro Manzoni and met youngsters who have been taking part in a competition to mark the 80th Anniversary of the British Council, describing or imagining a day in the life of their favourite literary characters.
Many of the children were dressed up as characters from Paddington, a particular favourite.
The Queen, wearing a navy and white spotted dress by Fiona Clare, was greeted outside by hundreds of cheering and flag-waving youngsters, squealing with delight.
The Queen had been keen to meet children in a local school to reinforce the benefit of developing a love of literature from a very young age
Before she left the Queen, who appeared in high spirits, was given a bouquet of flower and thanked the children
She was met by Brian Young, Director of the British Council, who introduced the Italian Minister for Education and Merit, Giuseppe Valditara, and other dignitaries including the Headteacher of Istituto Alessandro Manzoni, Preside Simona Simola.
Arriving at the first, brightly-decorated classroom, Her Majesty joined children having an English lesson and greeted them with good morning in Italian.
English teacher Barbara Bucciarelli explained that the children wanted to sing ‘Let’s Learn English Together’ for her.
‘You’re learning English, perhaps you can teach me some Italian,’ she said.
The children all sweetly bowed and said ‘Good morning Your Majesty’.
Afterwards she was given questions to ask the children about Paddington including: ‘Who is your favourite charterer in Paddington?’
The children chorused loudly ‘Paddington’ to the first’ and put their answers in a suitcase.
Before she left the Queen was given a bouquet of flower. ‘Grazie’ she said.
Her Majesty was presented with wedding anniversary cards, created by the students and a surprise gift of a marguerita pizza from a local family restaurant
‘Thank you very much. It was lovely to meet you and learn all about Paddington.’
Afterwards she walked through the corridors lined with excited children and watched a modern dance, before going into the assembly hall to meet winners of the the British Council’s literary competition, which marks its 80th anniversary.
Minister Valditara spoke about the joy of reading, saying: ‘In the age of digital communications the paper book is still a key reference point.’
In an off-the-cuff speech the Queen replied: ‘I just wanted to say how impressed I am already at the way you speak English. I suspect I need to come to the school to learn Italian. My Italian is very poor. I think it’s wonderful what you are doing for literacy and literature. It’s so important. You’ve obviously got a lot of talent here so thank you for having me.’
She then handed out certificates to the competition winners and cut a celebratory cake.
It is understood the Queen had been keen to meet children and teachers in a local school to reinforce the benefit of developing a love of literature from a very young age, and champion the need to help children to learn to read.
Before she departed the hall she gave a gift of a selection of books to the headteacher for the children, pretending to struggle at the weight, and joining a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday to the British Council in English and Italian.
After a group photo with the everyone in the Assembly Hall, Her Majesty went outside to more cheers where she was presented with wedding anniversary cards, created by the students and a surprise gift of a marguerita pizza from a local family restaurant, Pizza Viola, by owner Federica Viola. Marguerita was originally named after an Italian queen
‘This looks delicious, we shall enjoy it later,’ she said. She also thanked the youngsters profusely for her cards.
The Istituto Comprensivo Alessandro Manzoni a state school and comprises a nursery, a primary school and a middle school with around 1000 students.
It is committed to fostering an inclusive environment, with a mix of children from different backgrounds.
Earlier in the day the King also met Italian actor Luca Zingaretti famed for playing the food-loving Inspector Montalbano when he celebrated the nation’s acting heritage.
Charles chatted to the popular actor whose portrayal of the Scillian based detective has proved a hit in Italy and the UK and then watched the next crop of acting hopefuls perform an emotional scene from Shakespeare’s Othello.
After watching a scene that included the moment Othello strangles his wife Desdemona on their marital bed in a fit of jealousy, the King met the actors who performed at Mattatoio, a late 19th century slaughterhouse in Rome that is being regenerated.
He joked his ‘Italian was not good enough’ to follow the performance, but guests could keep up with the action thanks to an English language extract of Shakespeare in a programme.
One of the students from the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica Silvio d’Amico
had been thrown to the ground during the scene and Charles asked her ‘not too many bruises, the fall was quite hard’.
Actor Luca Zingaretti trained at the academy and said about the role Shakespeare plays in Italian theatre: ‘I was trained on Shakespeare probably like most Italian actors are.
‘In Shakespeare, you can find all styles, everything is their – life, death, betrayal, love – all those big themes.’
Montalbano is famed as much for his love of Italian cooking as solving complex crimes and the TV series, which highlights Italian culture and family life, has been adapted from the popular books by Andrea Camilleri.
The actor joked about the popularity of the detective he plays, saying: ‘The whole of Europe north of the Alps is enchanted by places where you can go swimming in the winter.’
He added: ‘Montalbano represents values that were embodied by our grandparents, so represents something that appeals to many.’