From the Colosseum to the Vatican, See the Best Photos from King Charles and Queen Camilla's Italy Visit

Buongiorno, Italia!

The King and Queen arrived at Giovan Battista Pastine-Rome Ciampino Airport on Monday, April 7.

An airport staffer who saw the royal couple disembark told PEOPLE that Italy is "definitely in the grip of a royal fever."

"King Charles and Camilla are spending their 20th anniversary here for us, working, with a packed schedule. Rather than a romantic getaway, they've chosen to work and carry out their royal duty," the staffer added. "It’s very striking, particularly as we all know they are a couple whose relationship survived decades of drama before they finally tied the knot."

Heads of State

King Charles and Queen Camilla's first official stop was at the Quirinale Presidential Palace, where they met with Italy's president, His Excellency Signor Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter, Signora Laura Mattarella.

Flying Colors

As part of the ceremonial welcome, President Mattarella treated the royal couple to a flyover by Italy's Frecce Tricolori and the U.K.'s Red Arrows, displaying the colors of their respective nations' flags.

Royal Fever in Italy

The "royal fever" was on display in the streets of Rome, where King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted onlookers, including schoolchildren waving Union Jack flags.

Historic Happiness

The King and Queen were all smiles as they posed for photographs in front of the Colosseum. The royal couple then received a tour of the iconic Italian landmark from popular historian and television presenter Alberto Angela.

Picturesque and Personal

Next, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended an intimate reception at Villa Wolkonsky, the home of the U.K.'s ambassador to Italy, Lord Edward Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep.

The couple mingled with around 100 attendees, speaking with as many as they could.

Dr. Paul Atkin got to speak with the Queen for about five minutes. He told PEOPLE that he was "blown away" by their conversation and the Queen's genuine interest in it.

When told his Teatro San Cassiano Group was working to renovate the world's very first public opera house in Venice, Atkin said the Queen's "eyes lit up immediately."

"What touched me deeply was how she referred to King Charles – not as 'the King' but warmly as 'my husband,' " he recounted. "She smiled and said, 'My husband would love this – he's passionately devoted to opera.'

20 Years Strong

King Charles and Queen Camilla also took a moment during their time in Italy to pose for a few photos celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, 2025.

The royal family's official Instagram account later shared some of the photos as well as a tribute to the couple and their many years together.

"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!" they captioned the sweet shots.

Sharing Some Laughs

An official visit doesn't always have to be a serious state of affairs!

King Charles met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni at Rome's Villa Doria Pamphilj on the morning of April 9. As the pair surveyed the picturesque location and posed for a series of stately photos, they also appeared to share a few hearty laughs.

Back to School

As for Queen Camilla, she spent part of the day on April 9 visiting a local school in Rome. The Queen spoke with the young students and gifted them a selection of books before posing for an official photo with school teachers and administrators.

Bravissimo!

Later that day, King Charles became just the fourth non-Italian in history to address the entirety of the Italian Parliament. He did a portion of his speech in Italian, another first for a U.K. head of state.

In reference to his wedding anniversary, the King slyly thanked President Mattarella for inviting him to the "romantic, candle-lit dinner for two" before embarking on a heartfelt speech highlighting how Italy and the U.K. have supported and inspired one another throughout the centuries.

'We have benefitted hugely from your influence over what we wear, what we drink and what we eat. I can only hope you will forgive us for occasionally corrupting your wonderful cuisine!" he joked. "We do so with the greatest possible affection."

Following the speech, members of parliament spoke with PEOPLE and shared their reactions – particularly in regards to the King speaking in Italian.

"It wasn't his paying lip service respect," said Emanuele Loprefido, a member of the Fratelli d’Italia party. "You could tell it was a genuine and deep passion for everything that represents our country, our culture, our history, our traditions, our customs, and our food."

His fellow party member, Andrea Mascaretti, agreed.

"The fact that they're spending these special days here in Rome means something. Obviously, there's protocol, but you can tell that this trip is something they're very passionate about and that they appreciate," he noted.

"It’s clear this is a King who knows our country very well, loves our country, to the point that previously when he was a Prince he visited many, many times," Mascaretti added. "He also highlighted how there are common positions regarding military cooperation, as we are on the same side with respect to the fight for Ukraine."

Spontaneous Sweet Treats

Following his speech, the Queen joined the King for a tour of the Parliament building before they got a sweet treat: gelato from a nearby shop!

"His extreme spontaneity was remarkable. Just before the ceremony began, and immediately after it concluded, the royal couple greeted journalists and officials present in the Transatlantico hall outside of the chamber," Pierpaolo La Rosa, a Parliament journalist for the Italian La Nova news agency, told PEOPLE.

"Overall, it was very moving," he added. "The fact that he spoke in Italian was received very positively."

Gala Glam

To cap off the third day of their visit, the King and Queen went formal to attend the state banquet at Quirinale Palace on April 9.

A High Note

Iconic Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli was among the many notable guests in attendance at the state dinner.

Put to Work

On April 10, the King started his day with a bit of manual labor, planting a tree in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky.

"Well I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree," he said, according to the Daily Mail.

Revering Ravenna

The royal tour then moved on to Ravenna, Italy, where the King visited the Basilica di San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia to observe the mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries.

Meeting the Mayor

The royal couple also met with Mayor Fabio Sbaraglia at a reception in the Ravenna town hall, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the town's liberation from Nazi occupation by Allied forces, which included British and Canadian soldiers.

Say Cheese

The royals also visited a traditional Emilia-Romagna market in Ravenna, where Italian chef Massimo Bottura showcased some of "Italy's finest" cheese.

"[These are] proud examples of Italian craftsmanship that reach global markets, including the UK, our fourth-largest export destination with over 6,500 tons of Parmigiano Reggiano purchased annually," Bottura told PEOPLE.

"King Charles also shares our commitment to environmental stewardship, ecology, and sustainable agriculture," he added. "These values align perfectly with Parmigiano Reggiano production, which uses special milk from controlled farms where cows consume only local fodder under strict regulations - making it an ideal product for someone passionate about responsible agriculture."

Their Majesties Meet His Holiness

Despite the announcement last month that King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit with Pope Francis had been postponed due to the pope's ongoing health issues, the trio did get a chance to meet up after all.

Pope Francis, 88, has been advised to rest after being discharged from the hospital on March 23 following a 38-day stay, so it was a low-key reunion with the King and Queen.

Ciao, Italia!

After a whirlwind four-day visit, the King and Queen waved as they prepared to depart from Forli Airport in Ravenna at the end of their state visit on April 10.