King Charles and Queen Camilla received a spectacular ceremonial welcome to Italy on the second day of their state visit.
The royal couple were greeted at Rome’s Quirinale Palace by President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura.
They watched from the Terrace as nine British Red Arrows and seven Italian Frecce Tricolori jets performed a flypast, trailing the distinctive national colours of both countries.
Earlier, the King and Queen had arrived in the palace courtyard where national anthems were played.
King Charles and Queen Camilla received a spectacular ceremonial welcome to Italy on the second day of their state visit
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The King inspected a Guard of Honour formed of the Quirinale Band, Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri and mounted Corazzieri Guards.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the UK Ambassador to Rome, Lord Llewellyn, joined them inside the Sala del Bronzino.
President Mattarella introduced the royal couple to Italian officials, including Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Ambassador Inigo Lambertini.
“We are very lucky to have him,” the King remarked of Lambertini.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary today
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The King and President posed for photographs before a private meeting with the Queen and Laura Mattarella.
Charles told his host through an interpreter: “This is my 18th visit here.”
Honours were exchanged during the meeting, with the King receiving the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.
In return, he presented President Mattarella with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
“It’s just a token really of our appreciation, you’ve served for so long,” said the monarch.
The Queen received Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.
“I’m very honoured and humbled,” she told her host.
President Mattarella, 83, is Italy’s longest-serving President, first elected in January 2015 and again in 2022.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted at Rome’s Quirinale Palace by President Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura
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Following the exchange of honours, Queen Camilla and Signora Laura departed to view a selection of antique books on horsemanship in the Biblioteca del Piffetti.
The pair then toured the State Rooms of the 16th-century palace, where they chatted with staff who were preparing for the following day’s State Banquet and observed workers carrying out repairs on tapestries and furniture throughout the historic building.
The President and his daughter later reunited with the King and Queen, who are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary today, to say their farewells in the Palace’s Sala del Bronzino.
This magnificent room is hung with tapestries designed by the Florentine artist Bronzino.
