logo
British Royals Greet Crowds at Colosseum During Italy Visit

British Royals Greet Crowds at Colosseum During Italy Visit

Asharq Al-Awsat08-04-2025
King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla greeted crowds on Tuesday as they visited the Colosseum and Roman Forum on the second day of a state visit which is aimed at reinforcing close ties between Britain and Italy.
Charles, who is paying his 18th official visit to Italy, is on his first overseas trip this year as he continues to undergo treatment for cancer.
The British Red Arrows and Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic teams staged a rare joint flypast to mark the event, with Charles and Camilla watching the display alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace.
"It is important to have good relations with European countries," said British tourist Jonathan Smith as he showed a picture on his telephone of the planes sweeping over the heart of Rome, multi-colored smoke flowing behind them.
Britain quit the European Union in 2020 and the royal visit is seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to ease the pain of the Brexit divorce with its old EU allies.
US President Donald Trump's move to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from around the world, while simultaneously questioning Washington's military commitment to Europe, has underscored the need for old European partners to continue to work together.
"I think it is great for the Anglo-Italian relationship, particularly given the current climate around the world," said British tourist John Forde near the Colosseum, when asked about the royal visit.
A group of children waved British flags as the royal couple walked towards the forum, from where they could enjoy a view of the Colosseum from a terrace.
Alberto Angela, a well-known Italian television personality and host of science and history shows, guided the king and queen during their brief visit to the forum, which served as the political, religious and commercial heart of ancient Rome.
"This is a place of big history... and having the queen and the king coming here makes sense," Angela told reporters after the royals left.
During their first full day in Rome, the king and queen also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Charles is due to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday and then address a joint session of parliament -- the first British monarch to be given this honor.
Charles and Camilla also mark their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday and they will spend the evening at a state banquet hosted by Mattarella at his Quirinale residence.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Iran's deputy FM: Held serious talks with Europeans, consultations to continue
Iran's deputy FM: Held serious talks with Europeans, consultations to continue

Al Arabiya

time3 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

Iran's deputy FM: Held serious talks with Europeans, consultations to continue

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Friday that Tehran held a 'serious, frank, and detailed' discussion with European powers about sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, in which both sides presented specific ideas. He added that Iran reiterated its principled positions, including on the snapback sanctions mechanism, and that it was agreed that consultations on the matter would continue. Developing

Gulf countries welcome France recognition of Palestinian state
Gulf countries welcome France recognition of Palestinian state

Al Arabiya

time33 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

Gulf countries welcome France recognition of Palestinian state

Gulf Arab states on Friday welcomed President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognize the state of Palestine, and urged other countries to follow suit. Other European Union members have recognized Palestine since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023 but France is the first member of the G7 group of major advanced economies to do so. Macron said on Thursday that France would formally recognize a Palestinian state during a United Nations meeting in September. A ministerial-level meeting co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia to discuss a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is planned for later this month. Qatar, a key mediator in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on ending the Gaza war, also welcomed the French move. Its foreign ministry said the move 'constitutes significant support for the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people' and 'contributes to advancing prospects for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region.' The Kuwaiti foreign ministry said it 'commended this significant step.' The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- which also includes the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, both of which have ties with Israel -- also praised the move.

IAEA chief ‘encouraged' by Iran decision to re-engage
IAEA chief ‘encouraged' by Iran decision to re-engage

Arab News

time33 minutes ago

  • Arab News

IAEA chief ‘encouraged' by Iran decision to re-engage

SINGAPORE: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said Friday he was 'encouraged' that Iran had agreed for a delegation from the UN nuclear watchdog to visit the country 'within weeks.' Grossi said the visit by the technical team could pave the way for UN inspectors to return to Iran, potentially within this year. 'If we do not return soon, there would be a serious problem, because this is an international obligation of Iran,' Grossi told reporters during a visit to Singapore. 'I am encouraged by what I have been hearing from Tehran in the sense that they want to re-engage with us,' he added. A date for the visit was yet to be determined, but Grossi confirmed it will be 'within weeks.' Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had told the United Nations in New York a day earlier that an IAEA delegation would visit Iran within two to three weeks. The group will not have access to nuclear sites, Gharibabadi said, adding that the visit would focus on establishing new relations with the UN nuclear watchdog. The Iranian official spoke ahead of negotiations on Friday in Istanbul with France, Britain and Germany, which are threatening to sanction Iran over its alleged failure to adhere to its nuclear commitments. If the European countries impose sanctions, 'we will respond, we will react,' Gharibabadi said. Grossi said the team will not include nuclear inspectors yet. 'We need to listen to Iran in terms of what they consider should be the precautions to be taken. Some places... were destroyed. We should also check on this situation and then decide on a precise day to start the process of inspection, as we normally should.' An IAEA team left Iran in early July to return to the organization's headquarters in Vienna after Tehran suspended cooperation with the agency. Iran has blamed the IAEA in part for attacks on its nuclear facilities in June, which Israel says it launched to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon – an ambition Tehran has repeatedly denied. The United States carried out its own strikes on June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that Tehran has no plans to abandon its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, despite the 'severe' damage to its facilities.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store