Queen Camilla has been honored with a prestigious papal award during the British royals’ state visit to the Vatican.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Rome on October 22 for a two-day visit to the Holy See, the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican. Their trip has already made history.
This morning, the British monarch, who is also the Head of the Church of England, and Pope Leo prayed together in the Sistine Chapel. This marked the first time in over 500 years that a British monarch and the pope have prayed together—a powerful symbol of unity between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
In addition to this historic moment, rare honors were exchanged between the Pope and the King and Queen. Queen Camilla was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Holy See.
According to The Telegraph, King Charles will become Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Vatican Order of Pope Pius IX, while Camilla receives the Dame Grand Cross of the same order. Founded in 1560, this papal order of knighthood is the highest honor currently given by the Vatican and is awarded to women for distinguished service to the Catholic Church and society.
Camilla wore the Grand Cross, which is traditionally worn on a broad ribbon over the right shoulder with a star on the left breast, during the ceremony.
On social media, fans expressed excitement over the honor. One Twitter user wrote, “Wow! The Pope has granted Queen Camilla the title of Lady of The Great Cross of The Order of Pope Pius IX! The highest honour of The Holy See! This is huuuuge!!”
Meanwhile, King Charles also received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, an honor typically given to heads of state.
The joint prayer and visit marked a significant moment, especially for King Charles, who has long advocated for interfaith dialogue, according to the BBC.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said ahead of the trip: “The visit will mark Their Majesties’ first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025. It will also be a milestone in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor, recognizing the ecumenical work they have undertaken.”
The visit is historic as it’s the first state visit since the Reformation where the Pope and the British monarch prayed together in an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel. It’s also the first time the monarch has attended a service at St Paul’s Outside the Walls, a church with historic ties to the English Crown.
Queen Camilla’s striking all-black outfit also caught attention, especially her mantilla veil. This traditional headpiece is worn by women during Catholic services and remains protocol for female dignitaries meeting the Pope.
Cool!