King Charles to Address Italian Parliament in Historic Visit

Rome: King Charles on April 9 will address a joint session of the Italian Parliament at the Lower House during his official visit to Italy with Queen Camilla. The special ceremony in front of both Chambers of Parliament is the first to be attended by British royals, the conference of party whips in the House announced on Thursday.

According to Ansa News Agency, during the ceremony, the speakers of the House and Senate, respectively Lorenzo Fontana and Ignazio La Russa, will give a speech before King Charles delivers his address. Charles will become the first British monarch to address a joint session of Italy’s Parliament.

The programme of the April 7 to April 10 visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla will include meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni on April 9, Buckingham Palace has said. On April 10, the king will also travel to Ravenna to attend a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the province’s liberation from Nazi occupation by Allied Forces.

The royals will not see Pope Francis as part of their official visit, as originally planned. The Palace said earlier this week that it had been decided by mutual agreement to postpone it following the needs related to the convalescence of the pontiff. Francis, 88, left hospital Sunday after 38 days fighting pneumonia, and doctors noted he faced a convalescence of at least two months.