King Charles and Queen Camilla are “pushing ahead” with their visit to Italy next month to see Pope Francis despite his “dangerous” pneumonia battle, Cameron Walker has said on GB News.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed the monarch will travel to Rome and Ravenna between April 7 and 10.
A Palace source told GB News: “Our hopes and prayers are that Pope Francis’s health will enable the visit to go ahead.”
Speaking to GB News, Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker revealed that the Palace is in “daily contact” with the Vatican, with the outlook appearing “positive” so far.
King Charles is ‘pressing on’ with his visit to Italy to meet with Pope Francis
PA
Cameron explained: “There’s a huge question mark because of course the Pope is still in hospital, and is incredibly sick. He’s still battling pneumonia. Which is very dangerous for a man of 88.
“He lost half of a lung when he was 21 years old, so he wasn’t good to start with. But royal sources are insisting that they are in regular contact.”
Following the release of a new photograph of the Pope in hospital by the Vatican, Cameron added that the outlook on the Pope’s current health is “positive”.
He said: “Royal sources say they are in daily contact with the Vatican over whether this visit can go ahead, and they also insist that the outlook for the pope remains positive. So they are pushing ahead with plans for King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit the Holy See.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
When asked by hosts Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner if the King and Queen will “visit the Pope in hospital” if he is still in there when they visit, Cameron noted that the royals “do have a plan B and C, but are reluctant to share details”.
Cameron revealed: “I pressed them on this particular issue, and the impression I’m getting is they certainly have a plan B and C, but they are not telling us what those plans are.
“It’s not going to be the first time if he is still in hospital, that they’ve had to rearrange a state visit last minute.”
During the visit, their Majesties will also hold audiences with President Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Walker told GB News that the relationship between UK and Italy will be on ‘full display’
GB News
Discussing the itinerary for the King in more detail, Cameron told GB News: “Prime Minister Meloni will respect King Charles as the head of state of Britain. It’s all about that soft power of diplomacy, strengthening relations between the two nations.
“At a time where Russian aggression perhaps is ramping up a little bit two Nato allies, the UK and Italy, is going to be on full display.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Their Majesties’ programmes are designed to celebrate the UK’s warm bilateral relationship with each country.”
The spokesperson added that the Vatican visit will be “an historic visit in the year of the Papal Jubilee”.
