King Charles III and Queen Camilla to make delayed Vatican state visit in October

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to the Vatican for a state visit in late October, six months after a planned trip was postponed because of Pope Francis's illness, Buckingham Palace announced. The visit is intended to coincide with celebrations of the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year in 2025, and the couple are expected to meet the Vatican's new pope, Leo XIV, during the trip.

Francis died two weeks after the couple's private meeting during their four-day state visit to Italy, which also marked the royal couple's 20th wedding anniversary. The April trip was postponed when the pope's health declined, and the Vatican subsequently announced his death two weeks after that encounter.

The rescheduled Vatican visit is framed by Buckingham Palace as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which split from Rome in the 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII. Charles, who heads the Church of England, has prioritized interfaith outreach and dialogue since ascending the throne about two and a half years ago.

The Vatican and the British monarchy have long described such visits as opportunities to foster reconciliation and mutual understanding across Christian communities. The Jubilee Year, observed every 25 years, is traditionally presented as a period of pilgrimage and reconciliation, placing the upcoming visit in the context of ongoing ecumenical dialogue.

Observers note the timing as particularly symbolic, coming as the Catholic Church enters a new era under Leo XIV and as the Jubilee Year highlights themes of healing and unity among Christian denominations. Buckingham Palace has emphasized that the visit will reiterate shared values and a commitment to dialogue across faiths, with the aim of deepening cultural and spiritual ties between Britain and the Vatican.