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By CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster, Olivia Kemp and Billy Stockwell in London

Phil Noble/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up a four-day state visit to Italy on Thursday, which saw them mark their 20th wedding anniversary in style.  

After being treated to an aerial display from both the Red Arrows and the Frecce Tricolori at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, the couple spent their first full day touring the city’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum, met by cheering crowds and excited school children. Shouts of “Carlo!” could be heard from the delighted royal-watchers on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, the King became the first British monarch to address both houses of Italy's parliament – a pivotal moment he used to warn parliamentarians that “peace is never to be taken for granted” while nodding to Italy and the UK’s strong diplomatic ties. 

“Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share,” Charles said. “Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need – and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter.” 

Previously, only three other non-Italians have addressed the chamber from the president’s podium, including Pope John Paul II, King Juan Carlos of Spain and King Felipe VI of Spain, according to Buckingham Palace.  

“Italy will always be in my heart,” the King added. 

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Speaking of matters of the heart, Camilla used the public address to nod to a more private cause for celebration in the couple’s diary: their 20th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated the same day.  

Arriving at the Italian parliament on Wednesday, the Queen was wearing the silk chiffon dress that she previously wore at her and Charles’ civil wedding ceremony in 2005, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency.   

The couple later celebrated their anniversary at a lavish state banquet, an event Charles called “truly special.” The evening soiree was attended by around 150 guests including Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who delivered a toast for his honored guests. 

Charles, not shy of cracking a light-hearted joke, told the president: “I must say it really is very good of you, Mr. President, to lay on this small, romantic, candle-lit dinner for two.” 

Andrew Parsons/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The royal trip was touted as a “historic visit,” according to the palace, owing to a much-anticipated Vatican visit and meeting between Charles, Camilla and Pope Francis, which was later postponed due to the pope’s recent ill health. 

However, in a surprising twist of events, it emerged that the royal pair did indeed make a private visit to see the 88-year-old pontiff (more on that in a bit). 

On their final day of travels in the country, Charles and Camilla journeyed to Ravenna in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, in the northeast, where they visited the tomb of Dante, considered by many to be the “Father of the Italian Language.” 

The couple also met local farmers at a food festival who had been impacted by devastating flooding. In 2023, deadly floods engulfed the region, killing at least 14 people, drowning livestock and killing crops. 

Harry makes unexpected appearance in UK court.

The Duke of Sussex surprised folks this week, appearing at the UK Court of Appeal in London as the latest round in his legal battle against the Home Office over his security arrangements got underway. Harry, 40, is seeking to overturn a previous ruling against a judicial review of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) decision in 2020 to downgrade his protection when he and his family are in the UK. Last year, a judge concluded that RAVEC’s approach had been lawful and without “procedural unfairness.” The royal watched as his legal team argued that the judge had been mistaken and that he had been “singled out for different unjustified and inferior treatment” by the committee. Barristers for the Home Office, the ministry responsible for RAVEC, defended the government’s position that the committee was not against supplying protection, but rather that it would not be provided “on the same basis as before.” It said a bespoke approach would be taken for Harry on a case-by-case basis, which better suited the duke. The hearing wrapped up on Wednesday afternoon and a decision in writing is expected at a later date. Read more on this story here.  

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Prince Andrew's links to alleged Chinese spy revealed.

Prince Andrew’s relationship with an alleged Chinese spy has been laid bare in newly released court documents this week. The documents include a 10-page statement from the prince’s former aide, Dominique Hampshire, who detailed the duke’s dealings with Yang Tengbo – a businessman barred from the UK on national security grounds. Yang, who co-founded Pitch@Palace China, was reportedly authorized to act on Andrew’s behalf in meetings with Chinese investors and helped draft letters to President Xi Jinping about launching a Eurasia Fund to expand the initiative into an “investment-type business.” Hampshire claims the late Queen and royal household were aware of this communication and may have “even encouraged” it. Get more on this story here. 

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Vatican Media

As we mentioned above, Charles and Camilla made a private visit to the pope on Wednesday as he continues to recover from recent illness at the Vatican. The pair had previously canceled their state visit to the state, sending their best wishes for the 88-year-old pontiff’s full recovery. Buckingham Palace said the couple “were delighted the pope was well enough to host them – and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person.” Find out more about the surprise catch-up here. 

In the first episode of her new podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” released Tuesday, the Duchess of Sussex revealed she suffered from postpartum preeclampsia following the birth of one of her children. It’s the first time Meghan has spoken publicly about experiencing medical complications after childbirth – though she didn’t mention which pregnancy it followed. Calling the potentially fatal condition “so rare and so scary,” the duchess added that it was difficult to manage and “show up” during the ordeal. “And you’re still trying to juggle all of these things, and the world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly,” she said. “And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people… mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares.” 

The podcast, produced in partnership with Lemonada Media, is Meghan's latest project in her growing portfolio following her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and the launch of her new brand, As Ever. The series will run weekly for the next two months and marks her return to podcasting nearly two years after her and Prince Harry’s Spotify deal ended after 12 episodes. Check out more on this story here. 

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It was a night full of mixed emotions for Prince William as he took his son, Prince George, to watch their soccer team Aston Villa play Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Prince of Wales is a well-known Aston Villa supporter and couldn’t resist traveling to the aptly named Parc des Princes to watch his side play in its first European quarterfinal in 43 years. Speaking before the match began, William said he was wearing his “lucky clothes” and predicted a 2-1 win for his beloved club. The 42-year-old heir to the British throne also impressed with his concise analysis of Villa’s tactics, demonstrating his genuine love for the game. Find out the results of the match here. 

"Our younger generations can now see in the news every day on their smartphones and tablets that peace is never to be taken for granted."

– King Charles III

The King made a powerful address to the Italian parliament on Wednesday, drawing parallels between World War II and the present day. While paying respects to the “brave” Italians who supported British and Allied troops, Charles said “today, sadly, the echoes of those times – which we fervently hoped had been consigned to history – reverberate across our continent.”