King and Queen touch down in Italy

THE King and Queen arrived in Rome last night for the start of their historically significant state visit to the Vatican.

- By Emily Ferguson in Rome

Charles and Camilla touched down at Ciampino 31st Wing Airport shortly before 6.30pm.

As they disembarked, Holy See representatives formally welcomed them.

The Queen told Christopher Trott, ambassador to the Holy See: “It is a great pleasure to be here.” Meanwhile,

Charles told Monsignor Javier Domingo Fernandez Gonzalez, Head of Protocol in the Holy See: “It is wonderful to be able to come back to Rome.”

The King is “greatly looking forward to meeting Pope Leo” for the first time today, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said as Charles prepares for a series of engagements.