King Charles Queen Camilla Italy state visit: King Charles and Queen Camilla share new photos ahead of 20th wedding anniversary as they begin state visit to Italy

King Charles and Queen Camilla are in Italy, where they will celebrate 20 years as husband and wife, sharing new photographs to mark the occasion.

Their Majesties arrived in Rome on Monday evening (early Tuesday morning in Australia), officially beginning their four-day state visit.

The King and Queen are in Italy for the first time since the coronation and the tour comes nearly two weeks after the monarch was briefly hospitalised after suffering side effects during his weekly cancer treatment.

READ MORE: The untold story of Queen Mary’s most unique tiara

Their Majesties arrived on a government flight from Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, into Rome’s Ciampino Airport on Monday just after 5pm local time, their plane met by two F-35 fighter jets from the Italian air force before touching down.

They were greeted on the red carpet by government officials from Britain and Italy and a guard of honour.

Queen Camilla, wearing a navy blue dress by Fiona Clare, said she was “delighted” to be in Italy.

Their visit will include a fly-past in Rome, a state banquet and a meeting between the King and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

King Charles will also make history when he becomes the first British monarch to address a joint session in the Italian parliament.

The King and Queen will spend four days in Rome and Ravenna, with a programme including a “slow food” event, a visit to Dante’s tomb and the Byron museum.

READ MORE: Prince Harry ‘not informed’ of King’s recent hospital stay

The defence co-operation between the UK and Italy was marked with a joint flypast over Rome by the Italian air force’s aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori, and the RAF’s Red Arrows soon after the arrival.

They had been due to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican but that part of the visit has been postponed due to the Pontiff’s recent health battles which saw him admitted to hospital for five weeks, batting double pneumonia.

Their schedule has been spread out over four days, up from the original three, to allow for more rest due to the King’s own health.

Hours after their arrival, the King and Queen posed for a series of photographs in the grounds of Villa Wolkonsky, the British Ambassador’s residence.

Three photos were shared to mark King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding anniversary, on Wednesday, April 9.

The Queen wore a white dress by Anna Valentine, who also designed the outfit she wore on their wedding day.

READ MORE: Meghan’s blunt business advice following As ever success

Pinned to the Queen’s coat was the Lily of the Valley brooch that once belonged to the Queen Mother. The flower symbolises love, and is often included in royal wedding bouquets. Queen Camilla’s Art Deco diamond engagement ring also belonged to the Queen Mother.

In a message on social media signed ‘Charles R & Camilla R’, the King and Queen said: “As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people!

“A presto, Roma e Ravenna!”

They will celebrate the milestone with a state banquet on Wednesday, along with 150 guests, but are also expected to mark the occasion privately.

The visit to Rome and Ravenna will be King Charles’ 18th official trip to Italy and his first state visit as monarch.

He first visited the country in 1984 and his most recent was in October 2021, for the G20 summit in Rome.

All the defining photos of the British royal family in 2025

Queen Camilla has joined her husband on two of the previous visits, in 2009 and 2017.

According to royal sources, the monarch is said to be “raring to go” after his recent health setback.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.