The King and Queen are set to arrive in Rome today for an important state visit to Italy, despite recent concerns about the King’s health. This trip comes just over a week after Buckingham Palace announced that the King had been hospitalized due to side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment.
Last week, the King resumed a full schedule of official engagements, albeit with some adjustments to allow for more rest ahead of this trip. The visit, which will last four days, aims to strengthen ties with EU countries in the wake of Brexit and to address the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency.
While in Italy, the King and Queen were originally scheduled to meet Pope Francis in Vatican City. However, that meeting was postponed due to the Pope’s recent health issues. The palace emphasized that this visit would highlight the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Italy, touching on areas such as defense, shared values, and clean energy initiatives.
A highlight of the visit will be the King’s speech to both Houses of Parliament, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first British monarch to do so. Additionally, a joint flypast featuring the UK’s Red Arrows and Italy’s Frecce Tricolori will showcase the defense partnership between the two nations.
On Wednesday, the couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary at a state banquet, a significant occasion given the mixed reception their relationship received in earlier years.
This trip comes at a time when the King is also facing family challenges back home, including ongoing issues involving Prince Andrew and Prince Harry. As he focuses on diplomatic matters abroad, these personal matters remain a backdrop to his royal duties.