The China Mail - King Charles meets Italian president in pomp-filled state visit

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 in Rome, waved and smiled as they were driven through the streets of the capital to the 16th-century Quirinale Palace.

Their car was accompanied by mounted presidential guards, who are required to be at least 190 centimetres (six feet two inches) tall. The royals were met at the palace by Italy's ceremonial president, Sergio Mattarella.

The palace band played the British and Italian national anthems before the royals watched a joint flypast by Italy's "Frecce Tricolori" air force aerobatic team and Britain's "Red Arrows".

The king -- decked out in a blue pinstriped suit -- and queen -- who was wearing a blue silk crepe dress and coat with a diamond-and-sapphire brooch that was once Queen Victoria's -- are expected later Tuesday to visit the Colosseum.

British tourists Lucy Smith, 52, and her husband Peter, 59, managed to catch a glimpse of the royals as they drove by in their motorcade.

"We saw Charles and he waved. I definitely saw his face," Lucy Smith said.

The couple, from near Bath in southwest England, said it was a coincidence to see their king and queen while on holiday.

"We booked before he did, he followed us," laughed Peter Smith.

- When in Rome -

Another British tourist, Greeba Padbury, celebrating her 70th birthday with her two daughters, said the air show was "very impressive".

She said she missed the couple but was not too worried, as "we can see him at home".

In fact, "we're going for an Aperol spritz! Because it's 10 in the morning! Because we're in Rome!" said Greeba.

Charles and Camilla laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Altar of the Fatherland, a vast white marble monument crowned by a bronze statue of King Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of newly united Italy in the 19th century.

His great-grandson was Umberto II, the last king of Italy, who went into exile after the country voted in 1946 to abolish the monarchy.

French sightseer Philippe Heitzler, 64, stuck behind a security barrier during the visit, said he and his wife were fans of the British crown.

"We're aware of what the monarchy brings. It's a good thing," Heitzler said.

"On the other hand, we didn't understand why they wanted to leave Europe", he added, referring to Brexit, which saw the UK vote to leave the EU in 2020.

Charles has already made 17 official visits to Italy, though this is his first since becoming monarch following the 2022 death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

He will meet Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is set to become the first British monarch to address a joint sitting of the Italian parliament.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is also accompanying the royals.

The king and queen issued a photo taken in the gardens of the British ambassador's residence in Rome, where they are staying, to mark their 20th anniversary on Wednesday, which they will celebrate with a state banquet.

The couple, who will also visit Ravenna during the trip, described Italy as "such a special place -- and with such wonderful people!" in a message on social media.

Charles announced he had cancer in February 2024, without specifying which kind, but began returning to work at the end of April.

While continuing to receive treatment, he gradually ramped up his duties, including an official visit to Australia and Samoa in October.

Officials said his recent hospital stay, a few hours on March 27, was a "minor bump" in his medical treatment, and he resumed engagements on April 1.

R.Lin--ThChM