In a dazzling flypast display, the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Red Arrows and Italy’s Frecce Tricolori combined to officially mark the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Rome.
King Charles and Queen Camilla first met the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter Laura Mattarella on April 8, 2025, for a welcoming ceremony at Quirinale Palace in the Italian capital.
A Guard of Honor was presented before King Charles and the national anthems of both nations were played, but it was perhaps a stunning flypast that really stole the occasion.
As rumbles from the Red Arrows and the Frecce Tricolori filled the air above Rome, from the distance 16 aerobatic aircraft appeared soaring through the sky.
Then in spectacular form, the nine BAE Hawk jets of the Red Arrows and seven MB-339PAN aircraft from the Frecce Tricolori fired out their famous-colored smoke trails.
Italy's Frecce Tricolori and the UK's Red Arrows mark the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla with a historic joint flypast over Rome. pic.twitter.com/p8eJvwbrKl
— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) April 8, 2025
Painted across Italy’s sunny skies the Red Arrows’ red, white and blue and the Frecce Tricolori’s green, white, and red looked stunning and undoubtedly pleased King Charles.
In a social media post following the flypast, King Charles included an Italian and British flag with a handshake emoji and wrote: “At the @Quirinale Palace, The King and Queen have been welcomed to Italy by President Mattarella and Signora Laura.”
King Charles then went on to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome and visit the Coliseum.
King Charles arrived in Italy with Queen Camilla on April 7, 2025, with their flight escorted into Rome’s Ciampino Airport (CIA) by two Italian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning fighter jets.
The King and Queen are visiting Italy as part of a four-day state where they will visit Rome and Ravenna, celebrating the strong relationship between the two countries.
Plans for the two British Royals to meet with the Pope were canceled after the Roman Catholic Church head suffered from an illness and received treatment in hospital.
In a spectacular aeronautical display, Italy's Frecce Tricolori and the UK's Red Arrows stage a joint flypast over Rome to mark the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla. 🇬🇧🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/JFBkSVOEbA
— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) April 8, 2025
The Royal couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary during their stay in Italy.
“As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna,” they wrote on April 7, 2025.