King Charles and Queen Camilla conquer the Colosseum during Italy visit

King Charles and Queen Camilla received a spectacular welcome as they continue their four-day trip of Italy. See photos.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla posed in front of the Colosseum in Rome Tuesday and greeted thousands of well wishers on the first full day of a state visit to Italy.

The four-day trip comes less than a fortnight after Charles, 76, was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing side effects from his cancer treatment.

The royals, who will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday with a state banquet in Rome, were met by applauding crowds at the ancient gladiator battleground.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose outside the Colosseum during day two of King Charles III and Queen Camilla's State visit to Italy. Picture: Getty Images

Charles and Camilla greeted the crowd in front of the Colosseum in Rome. Picture: AFP

The monarchs are in Italy for four days. Picture: Getty Images

They shook hands and chatted with flag-waving schoolchildren and snap-happy tourists gathered along the route between the Arch of Constantine and the Temple of Venus and Rome.

Romolo Testa, a 19-year-old Italian who managed to shake their hands, said it was “emotional”.

“It was really a great honour, I was moved,” he said.

The royals will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome. Picture: AFP

Military bands from Sardinia’s Sassari Brigade and the Welsh Guards – wearing their distinctive bearskin hats – entertained the crowds at the Colosseum before the royals arrived with tunes like Abba’s “Dancing Queen”.

Charles and Camilla then had their picture taken in front of the Colosseum – which the ancient Romans used for gladiatorial fights, mock sea battles and plays based on Roman mythology – although they did not go in.

The couple posed outside the Colosseum in Rom. Picture: AFP

Queen Camilla greeting fans bearing British flags outside the Colosseum in Rome. Picture: AFP

The royals got a lesson in history during the tour of the Colosseum by a renowned Italian TV presenter and historian, Alberto Angela. Picture: AFP

Co-ordinated in a blue pinstriped suit for him and a blue silk crepe dress and coat for her, with a diamond-and-sapphire brooch that was once Queen Victoria’s, the king and queen were given a quick history lesson by a renowned Italian TV presenter and historian, Alberto Angela.

Queen Camilla attends a reception with members of the British-Italian community at Villa Wolkonsky, the official residence of the ambassador to Italy, in Rome. Picture: AFP

King Charles III speaks with Corporal Bright Asamoah as he meets the British-Italian community at Villa Wolkonsky. Picture: Getty Images

Angela told journalists afterwards that Charles had “wanted to know all the details about the past”.

“This place is a place of history. You had Roman emperors … and now you have the king and queen coming here. That makes sense,” he said.

At the 16th-century Quirinal Palace, they met Italy’s ceremonial president, Sergio Mattarella, and were treated to a joint fly-past by Italy’s “Frecce Tricolori” air force aerobatic team and Britain’s “Red Arrows”.

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla listen to the band of the Welsh Guards as they arrive at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome. Picture: AP

King Charles III, right, and Queen Camilla listen to the band of the Welsh Guards as they arrive at the Residence of the British Ambassador to Italy Villa Wolkonsky in Rome. Picture: AP

Charles and Camilla arrived in Italy on Monday hours after Prince Harry touched down in the UK.

The couple arrived at Rome’s Ciampino airport about 5.15pm local time (1.15am AEST) via a British government aircraft where they were welcomed by a guard of honour with Italian and British representatives.

The king’s youngest son is in the UK for yet another court case aimed at reinstating taxpayer-funded armed security for his family.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Rome on Monday. Picture: AFP

The monarchs were welcomed by Italy's head of protocol Bruno Antonio Pasquino after landing at Rome's Ciampino airport. Picture: AFP

It is not known whether the Duke of Sussex met his father before he left for Italy with the queen.

Prince Harry has not seen his dad in person since Buckingham Palace announced the king had cancer last February.

It was unclear if Harry will attend the Court of Appeal for the two-day hearing.

The four-year case has cost taxpayers A$1.3m to defend.

Harry lost 24-hour protection after quitting official royal duties in 2020 and moving with wife Meghan Markle to the US in 2020.

Prince Harry arrived in the UK just before King Charles left for Italy. Picture: AFP

The Italian state visit is the royal couple’s first trip to the country since 2023.

Just hours after their arrival, Buckingham Palace released three new photos of the couple relaxing at their villa ahead of their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

The royal family captioned the post on social media: “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! – Charles R & Camilla R.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla pose for a portrait at Villa Wolkonsky, in Rome. Picture: Getty Images for Buckingham Palace via AP

Charles has visited Italy 17 times. Picture: Getty Images for Buckingham Palace via AP

The state visit comes just 10 days after the King’s most recent health scare where he spent a short stay in hospital after experiencing side effects from ongoing cancer treatment.

The 76-year-old king will become the first British monarch who will address both houses of the Italian parliament before he joins the queen on a tour to Italy’s capital Rome and Ravenna.

“This visit will deliver a meaningful and broad legacy, above all their majesties will do something intangible but priceless,” Edward Llewellyn, the UK’s ambassador to Italy and San Marino, said.

“Their visit will strengthen the closeness between our nations in a way that only they can, creating memories that will last a generation.

Despite a recent health scare, King Charles is back on royal duties. Picture: AP

Queen Camilla is in Italy. Picture: Getty Images

King Charles waves to fans in Rome. Picture: AP

“Their love for Italy and all things Italian, the things Italians cherish – culture, food, heritage – resonate very, very deeply.

“So a lot to look forward to in the next few days. The state visit that brings together, quite simply, the best of Italy and the best of Britain, the closest of friends, allies and partners.”

The King has visited Italy 17 times while the Queen has travelled to Italy twice and this week’s visit will be the first the pair have done so together.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are received by the President of the Italian Republic, His Excellency Signor Sergio Mattarella (R) and the President's daughter, Signora Laura Mattarella (L) at the Ceremonial Welcome at Quirinale Palace during day two of their State Visit in Rome, Italy. Picture: Victoria Jones – Pool/Getty Images

The King and Queen wed in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on April 9, 2005 and they will spend their 20th wedding anniversary by attending a state banquet in Rome hosted by the country’s president Sergio Mattarella.

This week, The King and Queen will visit Rome and Ravenna on a State Visit to Italy.

➡️ Swipe through to read more about Their Majesties’ previous visits to Italy.

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 7, 2025

Due to Pope Francis’s ill health a visit to the Vatican has been removed from the royals’ schedule while the 88-year-old continues to recover from recent illness.

At a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence on Tuesday evening, Charles said he was praying for the pontiff, the ANSA news agency reported.

A wheelchair-bound pontiff – seen wearing a breathing tube – made an appearance in public on the weekend and waved to onlookers at the Vatican.

He was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 23 after spending six weeks battling a series of issues including double pneumonia and bronchitis.

– with AFP

Originally published as King Charles and Queen Camilla conquer the Colosseum during Italy visit