King Charles III and Queen Camilla met with Pope Leo XIV during a historic trip to the Vatican.
The couple had a jam-packed schedule on Thursday, October 23, for their trip to the Italian holy state. Both Charles, 76, and Camilla, 78, were all smiles as they shook hands with Pope Leo, according to video footage shared by ABC News.
This marked a groundbreaking visit by the royal family as the king brought the leaders of the Anglican church to meet with Catholic church leaders for the first time in centuries. Charles is the first monarch to pray publicly with the Pope in over 500 years.
Charles and Camilla attended a Prayer Service at the Sistine Chapel at the Apostolic Palace on Wednesday, October 22, after they received multiple gifts from Pope Leo. Charles was gifted, in part, a new seat adorned with his coat of arms in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
King Charles III Attends 1st Outing After Prince Andrew Gives Up Royal Title
The couple touched down in Italy on Wednesday and Buckingham Palace offered a statement of positivity ahead of their trip, despite the Prince Andrew drama that has unfolded in London over the past week.
“His Majesty is greatly looking forward to meeting Pope Leo and celebrating together the historical significance of this visit, representing, as it does, such a landmark in relationships between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, and between the U.K. and the Holy See,” a spokesperson shared in a statement on Wednesday. “At times of such global challenge, it has seldom been more important for Christian communities around the world to unite in faith and in fellowship with our partners.”
Charles was “proud” of this trip being a unifying symbol, the statement continued.
“It is wonderful to be able to come back to Rome,” Charles could be heard saying after he and Camilla stepped off their plane at the country’s airport. Earlier this year, the couple traveled to Rome for a separate trip to the Vatican, taking place just before Pope Francis’ death in April.
Charles’ historic trip comes days after his brother Andrew, 65, gave up his royal title as his connection to late billionaire sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continues to make headlines. (Neither Charles nor Camilla has yet to publicly address the scandal.)
Inside King Charles’ Relationships With Siblings Amid Prince Andrew Scandal
“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew announced in a statement to Us Weekly on Friday, October 17. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
Andrew’s connection to Epstein went public in 2019 when the late Virginia Giuffre alleged that she had an underage sexual encounter with the former Duke of York. Giuffre, who died by suidice in April, released a posthumous memoir on Tuesday, October 21, which offers more alleged details into her interactions with Andrew and Epstein. Andrew has continued to deny the allegations.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further,” his statement concluded. “I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
