logo
King and Queen express deep sadness at death of Pope after moving meeting

King and Queen express deep sadness at death of Pope after moving meeting

The couple's historic state visit to the Vatican in early April was cancelled because of the Pope's poor health, but they managed to visit the head of the Roman Catholic Church privately during their trip to Italy.
The King, in an official message released following the news of the pontiff's death on Monday, said he and Camilla were 'most deeply saddened'.
He praised Pope Francis for his compassion and tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith.
The King's message following the death of Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/tnwvSoXcMh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2025
The Union flag will be flown half-mast at royal residences where Charles is not in residence as a mark of respect and in accordance with Government guidance.
Sombre music will played at the Changing the Guard ceremony to reflect 'the sadness of the occasion', a royal source said.
A member of the royal family is expected to attend the Pope's funeral, if the Vatican is in agreement, but it is too early to say who will travel to pay their respects.
Pope Francis tours St Peter's Square in his Popemobile on Easter Sunday (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Royal engagements are likely to continue as planned, but will take into account any sensitivities regarding tone in the wake of Francis's death.
The King said: 'My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis.
'Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.
'His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others.
A nun prays in Westminster Cathedral in central London following the announcement of the death of Pope Francis (James Manning/PA)
'His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world.
'Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.
'The Queen and I remember with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were greatly moved to have been able to visit him earlier in the month.
'We send our most heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Church he served with such resolve and to the countless people around the world who, inspired by his life, will be mourning the devastating loss of this faithful follower of Jesus Christ.'
Che occasione speciale!
A special moment for Their Majesties as they privately met His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.
The King and Queen were deeply touched by The Pope's kind remarks about their 20th wedding anniversary and honoured to be able to share their… pic.twitter.com/5WAZu9nN5q
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 10, 2025
Charles and Camilla's meeting with the Pope in what would be his final weeks was arranged at the last minute and took place on their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, with the pontiff wanting to personally wish them a happy anniversary.
A senior Palace official said afterwards: 'I think outside of the official programme, the most significant and indeed moving thing was that visit to the Pope.
'We didn't know until the last minute that it would be possible. But when the Pope asked if he could see the King and Queen, Their Majesties were clearly very pleased; after all, they have known him over many years and, with the rest of the world, have been praying for his recovery.
'The Pope wanted personally to wish them a happy anniversary, not least because it hadn't been possible to do the state visit on this occasion.
'Their Majesties both came away feeling that it had been a very significant and special moment.'
Charles and Camilla met Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017 (Tim Rooke/PA)
Twenty years ago, Charles and Camilla's marriage ceremony was postponed with just four days to go following the death of Pope John Paul II.
The then-Prince of Wales put duty first and his wedding date was moved from April 8 to April 9 2005 because it clashed with the pope's funeral.
Charles represented the late Queen by travelling to Rome to attend the service, alongside more than 100 world leaders and ended up shaking hands with Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
The then-archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was due to conduct the prince's blessing in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after his civil ceremony had made it clear he wished to break with tradition and attend the pope's funeral.
Charles and Camilla were finally married on April 9 2005 in a civil ceremony, followed by a blessing the same day (Reuters/Pool/PA)
The 24-hour postponement of the royal wedding from the Friday to the Saturday meant Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles's civil wedding had to be slotted in ahead of three other weddings already taking place at the Guildhall in Windsor.
The King met Pope Francis twice as the Prince of Wales, but the visit in April was his first as monarch and head of the Church of England.
The pair are said to have had huge respect for one another.
Queen Elizabeth II with Pope Francis look at a papal gift to Prince George as they met at the Vatican in 2014 (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)
When Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, the Pope sent his 'heartfelt condolences' to Charles, the new sovereign, in a telegram.
He said he joined all in mourning her loss and paid tribute to 'her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith'.
The late Queen met Pope Francis in 2014 at the Vatican, when he gave her eight-month-old great-grandson Prince George a lapis lazuli orb decorated with a silver cross of Edward the Confessor, the 11th century English king who was made a saint.
The Queen gave the Pope a hamper full of produce from royal estates including honey from Buckingham Palace and Balmoral whisky.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during an audience with Pope Francis in 2017 (Tim Rooke/PA)
Charles and Pope Francis first met in 2017, when the prince and Camilla were received at a papal audience in the Vatican at the end of a European tour.
The Pope urged Charles to work to bring peace in the world, telling him 'Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace', with the prince replying 'I'll do my best'.
They exchanged gifts, with the prince giving the pontiff a large hamper of produce from his Highgrove estate for the poor and the homeless and framed photographs of himself and his wife.
The Pope presented him with a bronze olive branch, signifying peace, and copies of his writings on climate change bound in red leather and other papal writings.
Charles and Camilla during their audience with the Pope (Tim Rooke/PA)
Francis's reputation as a pope with the 'common touch' and a taste for simple living saw him dispense with some of the formality and trappings of his position.
In keeping with the relaxed nature of the meeting, Camilla did not wear black or a mantilla, a lace veil, in 2017 as she did when the royal couple met Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, but opted for a gold silk Anna Valentine dress.
But both the King and Queen were dressed in black as a traditional mark of respect when they met the Pope in April.
In 2019, Charles travelled solo to the Vatican and met Pope Francis ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman at an open-air Mass in St Peter's Square.
The Prince of Wales attends a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for the canonisation of Cardinal Newman in St Peter's Square, Vatican City, in October 2019 (Alamy/PA)
The King is Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
The role dates back to Henry VIII, who named himself Supreme Head of the Church of England after he was excommunicated by the pope, Pope Paul III, and broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century to marry Anne Boleyn.
A nine-day mourning period will begin in honour of Francis, with his funeral in around four to six days' time after his body lies in state in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Italy also usually declares a period of national mourning.
Two to three weeks later, the conclave to elect a new pope convenes, with the College of Cardinals locked inside the the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority, with a white smoke signal released through a chimney to announce a pope has been chosen.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim
Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim

The Courier

time15 hours ago

  • The Courier

Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim

The brother of a nine-year-old boy who died while trying to escape a Fife residential school has accused the UK Government of a cover-up. The youngster was knocked down and killed as police chased him along the M90 in April 1972. It was the 13th time the boy had run away from Corsbie Hall, in Thornton, amid claims of horrific abuse. A Fife MP later claimed the school could be part of 'a major education scandal'. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Gordon Campbell rejected calls for an inquiry. The family of the youngster who died told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry they were astonished at Lord Campbell of Croy's reaction. They claim documents suggest the secretary of state and George Taylor-Bryant, Corsbie Hall's headteacher, were friends. Francis, the boy's brother, said: 'They've airbrushed everything out of existence and it will come back to haunt them. 'My reaction is it's a cover-up.' Corsbie Hall was located in the old Thornton Fever Hospital, near Glenrothes, from 1970 to 1972. The inquiry heard children were regularly beaten, starved and forced to take cold showers at the school for 'mentally and socially disturbed pupils'. And Margaret Thatcher, education secretary at the time, stopped English youngsters from attending. The nine-year-old boy who died cannot be named due to legal restrictions. However, the inquiry heard he was removed from his Stirling home against his family's wishes because was dyslexic. Francis and sister Sharon, both pseudonyms, said their brother complained of being locked in a cupboard in just his pants almost every night. He spoke of being hit with sticks, refused food and forced to scrub floors and carry rocks. Then, in a letter home, the youngster told how he had run away 12 times but promised not to do it again. However, Sharon said: 'He ran away one more time and that's when he was killed.' The youngster's death had a devastating impact on his family and many years later they started looking for answers. They discovered Parliamentary records which show Fife Labour MP Willie Hamilton pushed several times for an official inquiry into Corsbie Hall. He said the situation was 'extremely unsatisfactory'. However, a letter from the secretary of state described their brother running away as 'no more than a boyish escapade'. And Lord Campbell, who died in 2005 aged 83, said: 'No blame can be attached to the school.' He later accused Mr Hamilton of 'being a little hard on the school', adding: 'I don't think an inquiry will serve any useful purpose.' The records show Corsbie Hall headteacher Mr Taylor-Bryant had no teaching or childcare qualifications. They also revealed one of the teachers had previously been charged with sexual offences against children.

Sadiq Khan: King apologised for taking so long to knight me
Sadiq Khan: King apologised for taking so long to knight me

Telegraph

time17 hours ago

  • Telegraph

Sadiq Khan: King apologised for taking so long to knight me

The King apologised to Sadiq Khan for 'taking so long' to knight him, Labour's Mayor of London has claimed. Sir Sadiq was given the honour by the monarch at Windsor Castle on Tuesday after being nominated by the Prime Minister. The knighthood went ahead despite more than 220,000 people signing a petition against the award in protest over soaring crime rates since he became Mayor in 2016. Speaking after the ceremony, Sir Sadiq said he and the King also discussed 'who's a bigger workaholic'. 'I have got the pleasure of working closely with the King,' he said. 'We were just comparing who's a bigger workaholic. 'He was very chuffed that he managed to personally give me this honour and he actually apologised for it taking so long – which is not a problem at all.' Sir Sadiq's knighthood was announced in January as part of the New Year's Honours. 'My mum's here, and she's been emotional since it was announced on January 1, and today's just a great day for the family,' he said. 'Obviously, from my background, being the son of immigrants, my parents coming here from Pakistan, it's a big deal for us.' Sir Sadiq, who is the first Mayor of London to be knighted, added later in a statement on social media that his knighthood proved one could 'achieve anything' with 'a helping hand'. 'The London promise: if you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything,' he said. '[I am] immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King. 'Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never imagined I'd one day receive this great honour while serving as Mayor. 'It's a truly humbling moment for myself and my family, and one I hope inspires others to believe in the opportunities our great capital offers. 'I'll forever be honoured to serve the city I love – and will continue to do all I can to build a fairer, safer, greener London for everyone.' Since Sir Sadiq succeeded Boris Johnson in 2016, knife crime has increased by more than 50 per cent, and violent crime has soared despite a 71 per cent increase in the portion of council tax that Londoners pay to City Hall. Last year, families of young people killed in the capital said the Mayor had 'completely lost control' of the streets. He has also waged war on London's drivers with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez). The petition against his knighthood accused him of having 'devastated the city we love so much', citing violent crime, rising rent costs and increased public transport prices. 'A knighthood is an honour reserved for citizens who've contributed significantly to their communities or professions,' it reads. 'It's a recognition of service that deserves the utmost respect, and as such, should not be bestowed on Sadiq Khan, who has failed to uphold his duty to our city and its inhabitants.' The petition was created by Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, a Conservative councillor on Harrow Borough Council. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said in December that Sir Sadiq's knighthood would see 'failure... being rewarded'. The knighthood came days after Londoners were forced to clean up graffiti on the Underground themselves which had not been removed by Transport for London (TfL), of which Sir Sadiq is chairman. The group, founded by Joe Reeve, a 28-year-old Londoner, said they were 'doing what Sadiq Khan can't' by cleaning up Bakerloo Line carriages. It followed Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, confronting fare dodgers on the tube in a video which has been viewed millions of times on X.

Claire Hughes MP was gifted ticket to the BAFTA Games Awards
Claire Hughes MP was gifted ticket to the BAFTA Games Awards

North Wales Chronicle

time2 days ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Claire Hughes MP was gifted ticket to the BAFTA Games Awards

Ms Hughes, who was elected last July, has declared the ticket on her register of financial interests. This states that, on April 8, the UK Interactive Entertainment Association Ltd gifted the ticket, valued at £700, which she accepted the same day. The BAFTA Games Awards, which were this year held on April 8 and hosted by comedian Phil Wang, celebrates achievements in the video game industry in the last 12 months. Ms Hughes' Labour colleague, Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, was also gifted hospitality at the event, also worth £700. Ms Nichols stated in her own register of financial interests that this was 'in my capacity as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on video games and e-sports". Ms Hughes is not a member of this APPG. All of the other items on Ms Hughes' register of financial interests date back to last year. These include a £10,000 donation from Labour Together Ltd, which was 'to support campaign activities leading up to the general election'. Ms Hughes was approached for further comment by the Pioneer. She posted on her Facebook page this afternoon: "Wales is starting to become a significant player in the global gaming landscape. But I want North Wales to have a much bigger slice of the pie. "At the start of Easter recess, I attended the BAFTA Games Awards celebrating the best of the UK games industry with UK Interactive Entertainment. "I'm not a gamer myself. As someone who previously worked in the sector, though, I recognise the massive value of the sector and opportunity for growth; the video games sector is bigger than the music and film sectors combined, contributing almost £7bn a year to UK GVA. "Recent growth in video games in Wales is thanks partly to support from Welsh Government including the Games Scale Up Fund for Wales, which last week announced a total of £850,000 funding support for Wales-based developers via Creative Wales. "But with the creative industries highlighted as one of the key growth areas in the UK Government's upcoming Industrial Strategy, we could be doing much more to encourage young people to consider a career in immersive entertainment, and to support up-and-coming businesses to thrive. "We have brilliant opportunities for people to gain the skills to build a career in the industry in our area - Coleg Llandrillo have long offered highly respected courses in 3D arts and games development, and the recent investment in a state-of-the-art new campus in Bangor makes it clear the Welsh Government is serious about putting pounds behind promises. "I hope that in future years, we will see games made in Wales featured at the gaming BAFTAs. More than that, though - I want more young people in Bangor Aberconwy knowing that a career in video games is up for grabs. "I'll be doing more on this over the summer, including workshops for school-leavers and an industry roundtable. If this is something you're interested in being part of, get in touch."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store