British State Visit to the Holy See: October 22 - 23, 2025

[iceflower]

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King Charles and Queen Camilla will pay a state visit to the Holy See in late October 2025.


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Their Majesties will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See in late October, joining Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the Jubilee Year.

A Papal Jubilee occurs every 25 years, and is a special time for the Catholic Church. The visit will also celebrate the ecumenical work by the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the Jubilee’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

The Royal Family on Instagram: "🇻🇦🇬🇧 Their Majesties will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See in late October, joining Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the Jubilee Year. A Papal Jubilee occurs every 25 years, and is a special time for the Catholic C

9,431 likes, 122 comments - theroyalfamily on September 27, 2025: "🇻🇦🇬🇧 Their Majesties will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See in late October, joining Pope Leo XIV in celebrating the Jubilee Year. A Papal Jubilee occurs every 25 years, and is a special time for the Catholic Church. The...

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Happy posting! ​

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[An Ard Ri]

This must be the first such Royal Visit of Pope Leo's Papacy ?

 

[muriel]

Look forward. I presume that this would be a day trip for the King and Queen.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Look forward. I presume that this would be a day trip for the King and Queen.

Yes a 1 day trip and rescheduled I guess after the last one was cancelled due to the health of the late Pope Francis.

 

[Mbruno]

Yes a 1 day trip and rescheduled I guess after the last one was cancelled due to the health of the late Pope Francis.

Are state visits to the Holy See always one-day trips? I wonder how the Holy See formally distinguishes a state visit from a simple "official visit" of another head of state. Is there any specific protocol that a state visit has, but a mere official visit does not?

 

[Stefan]

Are state visits to the Holy See always one-day trips? I wonder how the Holy See formally distinguishes a state visit from a simple "official visit" of another head of state. Is there any specific protocol that a state visit has, but a mere official visit does not?

I would think that a State Visit i more formal then a simple audience or meeting. But no Idea when the last State Visit to the Holy Sea was. Will be interesting which dresscode will be used.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Are state visits to the Holy See always one-day trips? I wonder how the Holy See formally distinguishes a state visit from a simple "official visit" of another head of state. Is there any specific protocol that a state visit has, but a mere official visit does not?

Given the minute size of the Vatican it could probably be a half day visit.
As far I can tell its a Papal Audience and possibly a private tour and Lunch.
I'm also thinking that dresscode will be more formal than under the late Pope Francis.

 

[muriel]

Will be interesting which dresscode will be used.

I suspect we will see the Queen in black, possibly with a mantilla.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I suspect we will see the Queen in black, possibly with a mantilla.

My thoughts too and it will be interesting to see what gifts are exchanged during the visit.
(I'm remembering Prince Philip and Pope Francis having a laugh together over the bottle of Scottish whiskey)

 

[iceflower]

An update for the state visit was released today - it will take place on October 22 and 23 it was announced:

The Royal Family on Instagram: "🇻🇦 The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See from 22nd to 23rd October 2025. Swipe across to find out more."

20K likes, 312 comments - theroyalfamily on October 17, 2025: "🇻🇦 The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the Holy See from 22nd to 23rd October 2025. Swipe across to find out more.".

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1979142851129938099

 

[An Ard Ri]

Here's a little extra on the rescheduled State Visit to the Holy See
King Charles and Queen Camilla to travel to the Vatican next week - all the details

 

[Jem]

I suspect we will see the Queen in black, possibly with a mantilla.

Witnessing that Queen Rania wore a mantilla during the official visit from Jordan, I guess the mantilla is expected.

 

[iceflower]

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the airport of Rome today, October 22:


** gettyimages gallery **

The Royal Family on Instagram: "The King and Queen have arrived for their State Visit to the Holy See. 👉 Swipe to read more about Their Majesties’ previous visits to the Holy See, Vatican City."

6,939 likes, 105 comments - theroyalfamily on October 22, 2025: "The King and Queen have arrived for their State Visit to the Holy See. 👉 Swipe to read more about Their Majesties’ previous visits to the Holy See, Vatican City.".

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981049974054953221

 

[Somebody]

The Dutch media highlight the historic significance of the visit in that the Head of the Church of England prays with the Head of the Roman Catholic Church - which will take place in the Sistine Chapel. Apparently, it is the first time since the Anglican Church was founded this (a joined prayer) happens.

 

[An Ard Ri]

From Sky News

BBC News Live updates
King Charles to meet Pope Leo during historic visit to the Vatican - follow live

From the visit to the Vatican
British State Visit to the Vatican

Queen Camilla chooses highly symbolic jewels for her historic visit to the Vatican – including a romantic nod to King Charles and tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

PPE Agency

 

[tommy100]

The King & Queen have arrived at the Vatican

King Charles arrives at Vatican to meet Pope Leo - follow live

The pair will pray together in a symbolic display of unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Blog Real]

Live: Second day of the state visit to the Holy See.

 

[iceflower]

At the Vatican today:


** gettyimages gallery **

The Royal Family on Instagram: "The King and Queen have met Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace, to begin their State Visit to the Holy See. Their Majesties will undertake engagements with Pope Leo XIV in celebration of the 2025 Papal Jubilee. This

106K likes, 1,174 comments - theroyalfamily on October 23, 2025: "The King and Queen have met Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace, to begin their State Visit to the Holy See. Their Majesties will undertake engagements with Pope Leo XIV in celebration of the 2025 Papal Jubilee. This will...

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981302466843906264

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981307811691724844

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981310468955291779

 

[muriel]

The Pope has granted the Queen the honour of the Lady of the Great Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX, the highest honour bestowed by the Holy See.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981312723301421509

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981319835662635454

 

[An Ard Ri]

Is this the first time a British Monarch and Consort have been awarded a Papal honour?
Normally these are reserved for Catholic Houses or Presidents of Ireland.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Is this the first time a British Monarch and Consort have been awarded a Papal honour?
Normally these are reserved for Catholic Houses or Presidents of Ireland.

I belive it is the first time a british monarch with spouse has recived a papal honour…

The Order of Pope Pius IX has been awarded to non-catholic heads of state before (The King and Queen of Sweden recived it by JP II) but i haven’t found any proof that a british monarch has recived it before…

Order of Pope Pius IX - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Toledo]

Witnessing that Queen Rania wore a mantilla during the official visit from Jordan, I guess the mantilla is expected.

When I saw Queen Camilla wearing a mantilla it brought back memories of my childhood in Spain going to church, ok forced to attend church, and the ladies all wore them as tradition heads have to be covered when you enter a sacred space.

Years and decades later I recall seen the movie Gladiator and it hit me like a meteorite, the mantillas head dress is none other that the traditional head covering used by women in Ancient Rome. It carried over into a Catholic Church tradition along with the rosaries (from the Hellenized version cult of Isis' tradition), etc.

Camilla, and Rania are literally following the phrase 'when in Rome do as Romans do"

 

[Kronprinz]

 

[Mbruno]

The Pope has granted the Queen the honour of the Lady of the Great Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX, the highest honour bestowed by the Holy See.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981312723301421509

https://twitter.com/x/status/1981319835662635454

Is it usual now for non-Catholics to be awarded Holy See orders? I thought that was not allowed.

The ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel was a very significant gesture. Unfortunately I did not have time to read the details. Who was the Anglican bishop celebrating with the Pope?

 

[Kronprinz]

Next time the King and Queen will be made Papal Count and Countess.

 

[Elly C]

Next time the King and Queen will be made Papal Count and Countess.

Please could you elaborate a little about this. Thank you.

 

[Kronprinz]

Please could you elaborate a little about this. Thank you.

Sorry, I was being ironic. The Holy See is a de-facto monarchy and has an aristocracy. However, titles are rarely granted these days.

Nonetheless, being granted a papal title is considered the ultimate recognition for a Catholic. Rose Kennedy, for example, was a Papal Countess.

 

[PrincessofEurope]

Do we have any further information on gifts exchanged other than the order

 

[VictoriaB]

Is it usual now for non-Catholics to be awarded Holy See orders? I thought that was not allowed.

The ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel was a very significant gesture. Unfortunately I did not have time to read the details. Who was the Anglican bishop celebrating with the Pope?

It was the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cotterell. Until the new Archbishop of Canterbury is sworn in, he is the senior cleric leading the Church of England.

Do we have any further information on gifts exchanged other than the order

The King presented the Pope wth an icon of St Edward the Confessor. The Pope gave the King a scale version of the mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, in the Norman cathedral of Cefalu in Sicily.

 

[Alison H]

Do we have any further information on gifts exchanged other than the order

According to Sky News, the King was given a chair, and the Pope was given a framed photo of the King and Queen!