LONDON

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to arrive in Rome on Monday for a four-day state visit to Italy, despite ongoing concerns about the monarch’s health.

The visit, which includes key meetings with Italian officials, is seen as an important diplomatic step to strengthen UK-Italy ties, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit.

The trip came just over a week after Buckingham Palace confirmed that the king had been hospitalized due to side effects from cancer treatment.

Despite the health setback, the monarch has resumed his full schedule of official engagements, with slight adjustments for rest ahead of the visit.

According to Buckingham Palace, the trip will underscore the strength of bilateral ties, emphasizing ongoing cooperation between the two nations in defense, international diplomacy and shared values.

A planned meeting with Pope Francis has been postponed due to the pontiff’s own recent health issues.