Rome: Britain’s King Charles III has warned peace is “never to be taken for granted” during a historic address to Italy’s parliament as Queen Camilla dressed in celebration of the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary.
Charles also paid tribute to the close ties between the two nations and said “Italy will always be in my heart” with Camilla sitting a few metres away wearing her wedding dress decorated with added embroidery.
He made history by becoming the first British monarch to address both houses of Italy’s parliament and, after mentioning World War II, said: “Today, sadly, the echoes of those times, which we fervently hope had been consigned to history, reverberate across our continent.”
“Our younger generations can see in the news every day on their smartphones and tablets that peace is never to be taken for granted.”
The king, who is making a four-day state visit to Italy with his wife, told the politicians in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome: “Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share.” Charles, who recently had a brief stay in hospital after temporary side effects from his cancer treatment, told the gathered politicians about the aim of the state visit.
“So I am here today with one purpose: to reaffirm the deep friendship between the United Kingdom and Italy, and to pledge to do all in my power to strengthen that friendship even further in the time that is granted to me as king,” he said.
He spoke about Italy’s impact on the United Kingdom and highlighted the European ties between the two NATO allies.
Charles told the audience: “We have benefitted hugely from your influence over what we wear, what we drink and what we eat.” He made them laugh when he added: “I can only hope you will forgive us for occasionally corrupting your wonderful cuisine. We do so with the greatest possible affection.”
“So we are two peoples, and two nations, whose stories are deeply intertwined - including, of course, with that of our European continent,” he said. (PA Media/dpa)
