Photos mask turmoil as King battles illness and geopolitics on tense 20th anniversary in Italy
King Charles and Queen Camilla have marked their 20th wedding anniversary with newly released photos taken in Rome, where their smiles conceal a storm of international tension, royal responsibility, and personal health struggles. The images, snapped in the tranquil gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, show the pair in a rare moment of calm amid a whirlwind state visit to Italy.
The Queen, wearing a lily of the valley brooch—a symbol of enduring love—stood beside the King as they posed at the British ambassador’s residence. But the glamour of the moment belies the heavier layers of this diplomatic mission.
Ambassador Lord Llewellyn called the visit “historic,” emphasising its significance in a post-Brexit world. The trip aims to reinforce Britain’s European alliances, particularly with Italy, as global uncertainties multiply. Royal visits, he said, may seem symbolic, but their soft power impact can be “intangible but priceless.”
Italy has already caught “royal fever.” Local enthusiasm for British royalty—fuelled by shared cultural love for literature, food, and tradition—has created a sense of celebration. But the original itinerary had to be pared back. A planned Vatican visit, including a service in the Sistine Chapel, was cancelled due to Pope Francis’s health, though speculation remains over a potential meeting if the pontiff’s recovery allows.
Tuesday brought the ceremonial core of the visit. The King and Queen arrived to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace. A dramatic flypast followed, featuring both Italy’s Frecce Tricolori and Britain’s Red Arrows. While the King engaged in private talks with President Mattarella, Queen Camilla viewed books on horsemanship—a subtle nod to her lifelong passion.
Later, the couple laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Rome’s Altare della Patria, a sombre moment honouring those lost in conflict. The rest of the week includes a visit to the Colosseum, meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and discussions around Italian slow food—plus a food festival appearance where Scottish whisky will be paired with parmesan cheese.
Perhaps most strikingly, King Charles will become the first British monarch to address both houses of the Italian parliament. The message is clear: Britain wants to reaffirm its place at the European table—even as it charts a course beyond the EU.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined the King on this trip, underscoring the importance of Britain’s defence ties with Italy and their shared support for Ukraine. Canada’s legacy also features in the schedule, with tributes in Ravenna to Canadian forces who liberated parts of Italy during World War II.
But this is no routine state visit. It follows a recent hospital stay for the King, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. While he returned to public engagements last week, the toll on his health is evident. The pressure of juggling global diplomacy with personal recovery adds weight to an already intense schedule.
Despite this, the King and Queen remain outwardly composed. Their anniversary dinner on Wednesday will be spent at a grand state banquet at the Quirinale Palace. Celebrities and political elites will dine on Italy’s finest cuisine while toasting the couple’s two decades of marriage—a personal milestone swallowed by political optics.
Before departing for Italy, the King hosted a star-studded dinner at his Highgrove estate. Guests included Stanley Tucci, Helen Mirren, and David Beckham—hinting at the fusion of royal duty, culture, and public influence that continues to define Charles’s reign.
Whether the trip creates lasting diplomatic value or simply offers a temporary spectacle, one thing is certain: the King and Queen’s anniversary celebration has unfolded on a stage far bigger than either of them could control.
