King Charles honours Queen Elizabeth during historic speech in Italy

King Charles made a historic address at a joint session of the Italian Parliament, becoming the first British monarch and only the fourth non-Italian to do so.

The monarch made the speech both English and Italian as it was received with a rousing applause.

Buckingham Palace shared a highlight from the significant speech as the King honoured the memory of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.

The King said in Italian: “È molto importante per La Regina, e per me, tornare in Italia per la nostra prima visita dopo l’incoronazione. Il momento è ancora più speciale per entrambi, dato che, oggi, ricorre anche il nostro ventsimo anniversario di matrimonio.”

It translates to: It means a very great deal to The Queen and myself to return to Italy for our first visit since my Accession. The timing is all the more special to us both since today also marks our twentieth wedding anniversary.”

He continued in English, “Italy is, as I hope you know a country very dear to my heart and that of The Queen – as it is to so many of our countrymen and women.”

Charles said that he had made 18 official visits over the past forty years to the Belpaese.

“It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a little more about this nation and have come to admire it even more.”