09-04-2025
King Charles meets Meloni in Rome
The King has met Giorgia Meloni at her residence on the outskirts of Rome.
The King spent the morning of his 20th wedding anniversary with the Italian prime minister at Villa Doria Pamphili, being welcomed on a red carpet and invited to inspect the guards.
The pair later posed for an official photograph at the entrance of Casino del Bel Respiro, a Baroque-style building originally built to house the art collection of the influential Pamphili family.
The King was greeted by Francesco Piazza, the head of protocol at Palazzo Chigi,who in turn presented Ms Meloni, the president of the council of ministers.
It is the first time the King has met Ms Meloni.
The King presented members of his delegation, including David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and Ambassador Baron Llewellyn of Steep, and met their Italian counterparts.
Ms Meloni then escorted the King down a staircase leading to the Villa's Italian Garden before stepping inside the villa for a private meeting.
Afterwards, the pair will walk to the portico where they will say their goodbyes, before the King departs for the remainder of his
Later, the King will spend the third day of the State visit to Italy with drama students from the Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica Silvio d'Amico.
They will talk about the 'significant influence of Shakespeare on Italian culture', the palace said, with a short performance of Othello in Italian.
The King, alongside President Mattarella, will also hear the outcome of discussions from a 'Clean Power for Growth' Roundtable.
The venue, the Mattatoio, is an old slaughterhouse, built between 1888 and 1891, to supply Rome, which has now been refurbished.
The Queen, meanwhile, will visit the Istituto Comprensivo Alessandro Manzoni, a local state school for an event promoting the love of reading.
She will meet school children who have been taking part in a competition to mark the 80th Anniversary of the British Council, describing or imagining a day in the life of their favourite literary characters. It is understood there will be a particular focus on Paddington.
Afterwards, the King and Queen will reunite to meet the President of the Senate, before the King delivers a speech to Parliament. He will be the first British monarch to address both houses.
This evening, the King and Queen will attend a State Banquet at the Quininale, for speeches and a celebration of UK and Italian culture.
