King Charles has spoken of how current crises around the world have shown “peace is never to be taken for granted”.
Speaking to both houses of the Italian parliament, and referring to the anniversary of the end of the Second World War being marked next month, he said: “Today, sadly, the echoes of those times – which we fervently hoped had been consigned to history – reverberate across our continent.
“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.”
As the UK works to reset relationships with its European partners, and in a sentiment aimed at keeping on side his Italian hosts, he added: “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… 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.”
In what appeared to be a nod to his own mortality, but also a recommitment to his diplomatic work as head of state, he also said: “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.”
Speaking for more than 22 minutes and often speaking in Italian, the King wasn’t put off his stride when a standing ovation and the parliament’s speaker almost cut him off before he’d finished his speech, simply joking that he was almost finished.
He was the first British monarch to address both houses of Italy’s parliament – the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic.
His speech will have been written in close cooperation with Number 10 and the Foreign Office, as royal tours are always carried out at their request, with his words seen as him delivering an important diplomatic message on behalf of the government.
But it was striking how the King also used the address to talk at length about one of his favourite subjects, the environment and the climate crisis, topics that, at times as Prince of Wales, he was criticised for being too outspoken on.
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This was a day about enduring relationships, with the King and Queen marking their 20th wedding anniversary, referred to by Charles in his speech and acknowledged by their Italian hosts.
To watch her husband deliver his speech, Camilla was wearing the original wedding outfit she’d worn at the Guildhall when they got married, reworked with some additional embroidery.
Earlier in the day, the King met Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Charles received a red carpet welcome when he arrived at Villa Doria Pamphili, the Italian equivalent of Chequers, at the start of the third day of his state visit to Italy.
In a reminder of the political significance of this trip, the King introduced his delegation to Ms Meloni which included Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is accompanying the head of state and the Queen.
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Ms Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, who took up office in October 2022, heads up a coalition of right-wing populist parties.
There was no guidance on what she talked about with the monarch, but no doubt there will have been much to discuss in the current climate, especially with both having their own links with Donald Trump.
Ms Meloni, is described by some as Europe’s Trump whisperer, because of the good rapport she had built up with him, while King Charles is seen as the UK’s own secret weapon, because of the respect he commands from the US president.
Camilla, meanwhile, was welcomed by cheering children as she visited a school to celebrate the British council and the work they do around languages and literacy – encouraging reading is a cornerstone of her official work.
Addressing the crowd with a little bit of Italian, she was later presented with a Margherita pizza, believed to be originally named after Italy’s Queen Margherita in the 19th century.
Later the King and Queen will spend their 20th wedding anniversary evening as guests of honour at a state banquet in Rome, where Charles and Camilla are expected to be joined by leading figures from Italian life at the black-tie dinner.
