Inside King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ Secret Meeting With Pope Francis

When royals travel to different countries, it’s not unusual for them to sit down with important figures — such as politicians, high-profile business people, or philanthropists. King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles recently took a three-day trip to Italy, where they met Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and President Mattarella, attended a state banquet, and greeted members of the public who lined up for a chance to see them; the couple even celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.

But Charles and Camilla had another important meeting, too — an unexpected sit-down with Pope Francis, who is still recovering after spending much time in the hospital for a respiratory infection. 

King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles met with Pope Francis

Earlier this year, Pope Francis was hospitalized with double pneumonia and spent more than a month in the hospital. His condition was so severe that it was unclear for a while what the outcome would be. However, he continued to get better, and after entering the hospital in mid-February, he was discharged toward the end of March.

With that said, it remained uncertain whether he would be well enough to meet with Charles and Camilla, which is likely why the meeting wasn’t highly publicized on their schedule. Still, the king and queen consort were able to sit down with him, and the royals’ official Instagram account announced the meeting after it happened.

“Their Majesties were delighted The Pope was well enough to host them — and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person,” a spokesperson for the royals said of the event, per Express. Few details were released about the meeting, but it reportedly lasted 20 minutes, and the royals and pope exchanged gifts. While Francis’ health has been in question, Charles also recently spent a bit of time in the hospital following side effects related to his cancer diagnosis and treatment that’s been ongoing since 2024.

Camilla Parker Bowles has reportedly been worried about King Charles

Charles continues to be dedicated to his royal duties, but after having been to the hospital in early April, Camilla is worried about her husband. Charles’ ongoing treatment puts the king in “uncharted waters,” given that the royal family has not dealt with an ongoing medical situation as such.

Charles dialed back his royal appearances last year, but once he received the go-ahead from his doctors, he resumed full royal duties. It’s unclear whether he plans to slow down any time soon.