Queen Camilla echoes Elizabeth II by wearing black,
Queen Camilla aligned with tradition by wearing black to meet the Pope today.
Accompanying her husband King Charles for his historic visit, Camilla paired her silk dress by Fiona Clare with a veil by milliner Philip Treacy over her head and shoulders.
Fittingly, she also wore the late Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘raspberry pip’ brooch in the shape of a cross.
For the royal couple’s arrival at the Vatican this morning comes nearly 65 years after Queen Elizabeth’s own historic visit, when she too wore black in line with protocol.
Her Late Majesty’s trip to meet Pope John XXIII in May 1961 marked the first visit to the Vatican by a reigning English monarch since Henry VIII’s split with Rome in the 16th century.
And Charles today will become the first British monarch in 500 years to pray in public with a pope.
Charles and Camilla’s state limousine swept through St Peter’s Square where crowds traditionally gather to see the Pope and made their way to San Damaso Courtyard, the ceremonial entrance to the Apostolic Palace, the pontiff’s official residence.
Waiting to greet them was Reverend Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and a guard of honour provided by the Vatican’s famous Swiss Guard.
The royal couple stood as the national anthems of Britain and the Vatican City were played.
They also met a group of Papal Gentlemen.
The state visit to the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, is understood to be deeply significant for the King personally and will celebrate the Papal Jubilee, held every 25 years.
Later, during an ecumenical service in the famous Sistine Chapel, the King, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, will pray with Pope Leo XIV.
After the ceremonial welcome the King and Queen were led by Monsignor Sapienza into the Apostolic Palace to meet Pope Leo.
Because the Queen isn’t Catholic, she doesn’t have the ‘il privilegio del bianco’ (the privilege of the white) which allows female royals to wear white in front of the Pope.
Drawn from Swiss citizens who are Catholic, the Swiss Guard has been providing protection for the head of the Catholic Church for centuries.
Today’s visit marks Charles’ first meeting with Pope Leo, who became the pontiff in May following the death of Pope Francis.
Charles and Camilla had a private meeting with Pope Francis less than two weeks before he passed away.
The meeting was part of the royal couple’s four-day state visit to Italy.
