Looking cheerful and at ease, King Charles and Queen Camilla appear in three heartwarming new portraits released ahead of their 20th wedding anniversary, which they will celebrate on April 9.
The royal couple was photographed beside the Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia, located in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky in Rome, the official residence of the UK ambassador to Italy, Lord Llewellyn.
Taken by Chris Jackson, Getty Images’ Royal Photographer, the portraits were captured just hours after Their Majesties arrived in the Eternal City. They are currently on a four-day State Visit to Italy, at the invitation of the UK Government.
For the occasion, Queen Camilla wore an elegant white and beige coat dress by Anna Valentine, completed with a Lily of the Valley brooch. King Charles looked polished in a navy pinstripe suit.
The images were also shared on the royal couple’s official Instagram account, along with the caption: “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.”
Their Majesties will reside at Villa Wolkonsky for the duration of the visit and are expected to spend their anniversary evening attending a formal black-tie State Dinner hosted by President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace.
Twenty years ago, the then-Prince of Wales had to delay his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome. Now, while a scheduled meeting with Pope Francis on April 7 has been cancelled due to the Pontiff’s recovery from pneumonia, there remains a chance of a private meeting. Pope Francis, who has appeared publicly since being released from hospital two weeks ago, may meet the King if he feels well enough. King Charles is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
During their visit, Charles and Camilla will meet with President Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The King is also set to become the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Italian parliament.
Their itinerary includes a visit to the Colosseum, where the bands of the Welsh Guards and Italy’s Granatieri di Sardegna will perform together, following a flypast by both the RAF’s Red Arrows and Italy’s Frecce Tricolori.
In Ravenna, the couple will mark 80 years since the city was liberated from Nazi control by British and Canadian troops. They’ll also take part in a food festival in Emilia Romagna, celebrating the Slow Food movement, where local dishes will be paired with British flavors like parmesan and whisky.
King Charles will meet with farmers affected by recent floods, while Queen Camilla will engage with a local organization that supports domestic violence survivors.
They will also highlight Italy’s literary legacy by visiting Dante’s tomb, and the Queen will make a solo visit to the Byron museum.
Ahead of their arrival, Lord Llewellyn remarked, “Their Majesties will do something intangible but priceless. Their visit will strengthen the closeness between our nations in a way that only they can, creating memories that will last a generation.
“Their love for Italy and all things Italian – things Italians cherish, culture, food, heritage – resonates very, very deeply. The State Visit brings together, quite simply, the best of Italy and the best of Britain, the closest of friends, allies and partners.”
20 Happy Years! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/NuIXKbUDZW
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 9, 2025