ROYAL VISIT HEALS VATICAN RIFT

The King and Queen's state visit makes history as Charles becomes the first British monarch to pray with a Pope for 500 years

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It was history in the making as the King and Queen met Pope Leo XIV for the first time on a state visit to the Vatican.

The encounter between the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England was always going to be hugely symbolic.

But Charles, who has for so long been an advocate for unity between different faiths, went a step further, taking part in a moment that represented an end to centuries of division.

In the simple utterance of the word "Amen", he became the first British monarch in modern history to pray publicly alongside a pontiff, during a special ecumenical service held in the magnificent surroundings of the Sistine Chapel.

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Their Majesties, who had landed in Rome to a ceremonial welcome the night before, arrived at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace in the State Bentley, the Queen paying homage to the occasion in a black lace mantilla by the milliner Philip Treacy.

They were greeted in the San Damaso courtyard by a guard of honour formed by the Swiss Guard. The pontifical band played God Save the King and the national anthem of Vatican City.

The state visit had been due to take place in April but was postponed because of Pope Francis's illness. The royal couple instead visited him privately, days before his death at the age of 88. This time, the King and Queen were welcomed by his successor, American-born Pope Leo XIV, for an audience in the papal library.

“Your holiness, it’s such a pleasure to meet you, if I may say so,” His Majesty said. Posing for photographs, he joked: “Constant hazard, the camera.” The Pope replied: “You get used to it.”