Celebrating Two Decades of Love: King Charles and Queen Camilla Shine in Stunning Italian Villa Anniversary Photos

King Charles and Queen Camilla commenced their state visit to Italy with a distinctive photo session to commemorate their 20th wedding anniversary.

The royal duo is set to honor this significant milestone on April 9 during their overseas journey, with two fresh images released on April 7 in celebration of the occasion. Captured on their initial day in Italy, the photos were taken at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome beside the Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia, a classical Roman aqueduct, by photographer Chris Jackson.

The outdoor portraits feature the couple beaming, with Camilla adorned in a white and beige coat dress designed by Anna Valentine, complemented by a lily of the valley brooch.

King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 76, also conveyed a heartfelt message alongside the new photographs. They expressed, “As we embark on our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are eagerly anticipating celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special setting – and with such wonderful individuals! A presto, Roma e Ravenna!”

They signed their note as “Charles R.” (where the “R” signifies the Latin term for king, “rex”) & “Camilla R.” (representing “regina,” which translates to “queen” in Latin).

King Charles and Queen Camilla, who experienced public criticism after revelations of their affair during Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana, were married in 2005.

Their civil wedding took place near Windsor Castle (but outside the royal residence grounds) with a modest gathering of 28 guests (including the King’s children, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Camilla’s offspring from her previous marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes).

Charles’ parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, did not attend the wedding ceremony itself — as the ruler of the Church of England at that time, the Queen determined that her presence was inappropriate at an event involving two individuals who had divorced their former spouses. Nevertheless, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle afterward and hosted a reception for the new couple at Windsor Castle.

The couple will observe their 20th anniversary on Wednesday during an opulent state banquet at the Quirinale Palace.

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Rome’s Ciampino airport earlier on Monday, greeted with an official welcome complete with a red carpet. Additionally, the Royal Standard and the Italian flag were prominently displayed from the cockpit window after landing.

Initially, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s itinerary for Italy included a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. However, this audience with the 88-year-old pontiff was canceled due to his recent health issues.

Although the schedule has been adjusted, the royals are also taking care to pace themselves following the King’s recent health challenges. On March 27, the King was briefly hospitalized due to complications from his cancer treatment, prompting him to postpone previously scheduled engagements for the subsequent day.

A royal insider described the hospitalization as “the most minor bump in the road that’s very much heading in the right direction.”

King Charles returned to royal duties last week, including officiating an investiture ceremony and attending a reception at Windsor Castle.