King Charles made light of his health as he planted a tree in Rome during his state visit to Italy.
The 76-year-old monarch, who has been receiving cancer treatment for the past year, began the final day of his and Queen Camilla’s visit by planting a tree in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence. He joked about whether he would live long enough to see the tree grow.
Addressing embassy staff who had gathered to watch the ceremony, Charles quipped, “Well, I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.”
As he added soil around the tree, he joked, “It’s not manure, is it? It usually is.” Afterward, a plaque was unveiled by the King to commemorate the occasion. Upon seeing the tree, he humorously added, “Needs a bit of water.”
Following the tree planting, the King and Queen thanked the embassy staff for their hospitality before heading to the airport to continue their state visit. Their next stop was Ravenna, where they were marking the 80th anniversary of the city’s liberation during World War II.
The royal couple was greeted by crowds dressed in red, white, and blue, many of whom had waited up to seven hours to see them. Chiara Simonini, an antique dealer, shared her excitement with the Daily Telegraph, saying, “We love England, the royal family, and their sense of duty. We’ve visited the UK many times for royal events, but having King Charles come here is magical.”
Giorgia Lucenti, another member of the crowd, expressed her admiration, saying, “It’s a gift for us. We thought it was wonderful that King Charles spoke in Italian in parliament yesterday. It showed enormous respect. We would give him 10 out of 10. He was perfect.”
Annarita Maserati, who attended with her 11-year-old daughter Victoria—named after Queen Victoria—praised the King’s bravery for continuing his duties while undergoing treatment. “I met her father, who is also Italian, in London under the statue of Queen Victoria,” she said. “We love the history of your country, and the royal family represents that. I’m so happy King Charles has come here, especially as he has been unwell. He is a brave man.”
