King Charles has become the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with the Pope - see the moment they met for the first time
The symbolism of a pope and king praying together nearly 500 years after the Church of England's split from Rome is striking, our religion editor writes
The monarch is supreme governor of the Church of England, and has been a longstanding campaigner for building bridges between faiths - why was the Queen wearing all black?
From an exchange of gifts, to a private audience with the pope, here's what happened before the service
Pope Leo was only elected five months ago, when he became the first American pontiff - who is he?
This visit comes against the backdrop of the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew - and the Palace are keen to make sure it doesn't overshadow the event, our royal correspondent writes
Image source, ReutersKing Charles and Queen Camilla have just arrived at the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
Stay with us and we’ll continue to bring you live updates.
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
We’re inside the basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls and it is absolutely massive, even by the standards of churches in Rome.
It’s named after St Paul, the apostle who is buried here, under the altar, with steps leading down to the tomb.
Further back in the church there’s a gorgeous golden mosaic ceiling above an elaborately decorated stone seat.
Beside that is another special seat that’s been made for the King’s visit.
Before the Reformation, this was once a church with a particular connection to the English monarchy, back to the Saxons.
So, this is a symbolic moment of joining up the dots of history.
The King and the Queen are now headed to the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls - which is where the tomb of St Paul is located.
Here, King Charles will be given a chair which is decorated with the King's coat of arms and the Latin inscription Ut unum sint ("That they may be one").
The chair will be kept in the church for the King for when he returns, or for his heirs and successors.
Image source, The Holy SeeSean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
Queen Camilla has kept to the traditional dress code of women wearing black when they meet the Pope.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is also dressed in black. She read a Bible verse during the prayer service earlier on.
This is seen as a sign of respect.
Although under the same dress code, Catholic queens and princesses can wear white.
But it makes you wonder, in the 21st Century, whether anyone would complain or really care if a woman arrived in something more colourful?
Image source, PA Media
Image source, ReutersLet's recap on what we have seen so far today as King Charles and the Queen visit the Vatican for a swift state visit.
Stay with us and we'll continue to bring you live coverage of the whistle-stop royal visit.
Image source, ReutersThe King and Pope step out of the Sistine Chapel following the historic prayer service, entering the courtyard of San Damaso
Image source, ReutersA handshake between King Charles and Pope Leo follows a unifying prayer service
Image source, PA MediaQueen Camilla shook hands with Pope Leo following the services, dressed in all black
Image source, ReutersThe royals stand side by side with the pope as they ready to depart to their next engagement
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
Image source, ReutersWe’re now getting a view of more of the Vatican, the city of which the Pope is the head of state.
Behind St Peter’s, and it’s unusual to see that famous church from the back, there’s Vatican City railway station, the only stop on the world’s smallest national railway.
While we’re parked up we see the King’s State Bentley gliding off to the next engagement on this whistle-stop state visit.
Image source, Getty ImagesA mosaic 'Christ Pantocrator' from a cathedral in Sicily
As we've reported, Pope Leo and the royals exchanged gifts to mark today's historic occasion - here's a closer look at them.
The King presented the Pope with a large silver photograph and icon of St Edward the Confessor - an Anglo-Saxon king of England who was known as being a man of great prayer.
In return, the Pope gave the King a scale version of a mosaic 'Christ Pantocrator' from a cathedral in Sicily, which has been made in the Vatican.
During a sustainability meeting, the pair will exchanged gifts of trees to be planted as part of efforts to support the natural world.
Prior to the service in the Sistine Chapel, the King and Queen had a private audience with the Pope. They then split up for different activities.
Here are some of those images below.
Image source, VaticanMedia/PAThe King and Queen held a private audience with the Pope
Image source, Getty ImagesQueen Camilla toured the Pauline Chapel, home to Michelangelo's frescoes of St Peter and St Paul
Image source, VaticanMedia/ PA MediaKing Charles met Cardinal Pietro Parolin the Holy See's Secretary of State
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
There's a beautiful piece of music by Thomas Tallis sung in the Sistine Chapel service.
He was a Catholic composer who lived through the often violent religious conflicts of the 16th Century, as the Church of England split from the Catholic church.
All these centuries later, Tallis might have been pleased to finally see this moment of unity and togetherness.
Image source, Vatican MediaThe service comes to an end with a prayer read by Pope Leo XIV.
"God our father, you have created the heavens and Earth," he reads.
The King and Pope now make their way out of the Sistine Chapel, where the Queen will remain to meet the choirs.
Image source, AFP
Image source, AFPUK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper now stands for a reading.
She's reading a Bible verse from a Letter to the Romans, written by St Paul.
The King and Queen will visit his tomb in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls later this afternoon.
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
Image source, AFPThe King is an enthusiast of harmony and the choirs are providing a suitable musical accompaniment for this historic gathering, with the head of the Catholic church and the head of the Church of England sharing a joint religious service.
Blending their voices are the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, the Choir of St George’s Chapel and the Sistine Chapel Choir.
We're seeing more pictures from the prayers between King Charles III and Pope Leo.
As a reminder, you can watch the service by pressing Watch live above.
Image source, AFP
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Aleem Maqbool
Religion editor
Image source, VaticanMediaThe symbolism of a Pope and King praying together nearly 500 years after the Church of England’s split from Rome is striking.
So too is the gesture of recognising the role Anglo-Saxon rulers played in the upkeep of the beautiful Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
But of course the relationship between the Church of which the King is supreme governor and the Vatican had already come a very long way since 1534.
The two Churches work together on numerous global projects and issues.
The late Pope Francis and former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby even travelled together to South Sudan to try to encourage peace.
As a prince, with a profound interest in faith, King Charles has visited Popes at the Vatican before.
Pope Francis in return was known to have a great deal of respect for the late Queen Elizabeth.
So while the images from the Vatican today will be historic, the groundwork for these moments has been laid over decades and indeed centuries of coming together.
Image source, AFPThe historic prayers - the first between an Anglican King and a pope - begins with the Lord's Prayer.
The prayer is said in English.
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Image source, AFPThe King and Queen are taking their seats in the Sistine Chapel ahead of the upcoming prayers.
They seem to be in deep conversation as the historic moment approaches.
Image source, VaticanMedia
Image source, AFPKing Charles III and the Queen have arrived at the Sistine Chapel ahead of prayers with Pope Leo.
Press Watch live at the top of this page to follow along with the latest from inside the chapel.
Image source, AFP
Image source, AFPSean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican
Image source, ReutersAs King Charles and Pope Leo met inside the Vatican, the King said about the cameras recording the historic event, they were a "constant hazard".
Pope Leo said "you get used to it", as he's had to become accustomed to being such a public figure.