King’s Vatican visit postponed due to Pope illness

King Charles will still visit Italy next month

The King and Queen have postponed their state visit to the Vatican, after doctors said the Pope needed to rest following a recent illness.

The visit to the Vatican was postponed by "mutual agreement", according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The wider state visit to Italy will continue in April with some alterations to the planned programme.

"Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered," the palace said.

The royal trip had been billed as a "historic visit" during the year of the Papal Jubilee.

It would have marked the building of symbolic links between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which King Charles is the Supreme Governor.

Pope Francis, 88, was only recently discharged from hospital in Rome after being admitted with breathing difficulties in February.

The Pope was diagnosed with pneumonia in both of his lungs shortly after his admission to hospital.

Later that month, the Vatican warned the pontiff was in a "critical" condition after developing both respiratory and kidney problems.

He is susceptible to infections after having part of a lung removed as a young man.

Catholics have been united in their prayers for the Pope's health in recent weeks.

His condition improved following treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

The Pope made his first public appearance since his admission to hospital on the weekend.

The wider trip to Italy has been planned to support relationships between the UK and Italy, reflecting "values, history and culture" shared by the two countries.

The king is expected to meet Italy's president and prime minister and become the first UK monarch to address both houses of the Italian parliament.

The royals have also been invited to be guests at a state banquet.

There will be disappointment that the Vatican elements of the visit will no longer take place.

The trip was planned this year as it is Jubilee Year for all Catholics – something that only happens once very 25 years.

An audience with the Pope and a service in the Sistine Chapel were key elements of the visit to the Vatican planned for the start of next month.

Just last week, Buckingham Palace said that the King and Queen shared their "hopes and prayers" that the health of Pope Francis would enable the trip to go ahead.

Royal sources said the "outlook was positive" although also warned that the programme would be reviewed on the advice of the Pope's medical team.

This is the first state visit for the king and queen this year. They will also celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while in Italy.