San Francisco Frontiers - Flypast for King Charles as he meets Italian president

The trip comes less than a fortnight after Charles, 76, was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing side effects from his cancer treatment.

The royals, who will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome, waved and smiled as they were driven through the streets of the capital to the 16th-century Quirinale Palace.

Their car was accompanied by mounted presidential guards -- notable as they have to be at least 190 centimetres (6ft 2in) tall -- and were met at the palace Italy's ceremonial president, Sergio Mattarella, and his daughter Laura.

The palace band played the British and Italian national anthems before all four watched a joint flypast by Italy's "Frecce Tricolori" air force aerobatic team and Britain's "Red Arrows".

The king and the queen -- who was wearing a blue silk crepe dress and coat with a diamond and sapphire brooch that was once Queen Victoria's -- are expected later Tuesday to visit the Colosseum.

British tourists Lucy Smith, 52, and her husband Peter, 59, managed to catch a glimpse of the royals as they drove by in their motorcade.

"We saw Charles and he waved. I definitely saw his face," Lucy Smith said.

The couple, from near Bath in southwest England, said it was a coincidence to see their king and queen while on holiday.

"We booked before he did, he followed us," laughed Peter Smith.

- When in Rome -

Another British tourist, Greeba Padbury, celebrating her 70th birthday with her two daughters, said the air show was "very impressive".

She said she missed the couple but were not too worried, as "we can see him at home".

In fact, "we're going for an Aperol Spritz! Because it's 10 in the morning! Because we're in Rome!" said Greeba.

Charles has already made 17 official visits to Italy, though this is his first since becoming monarch following the 2022 death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

He will meet Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his trip and is set to become the first British monarch to address a joint sitting of the Italian parliament.

The king and queen issued a photo late Monday taken in the gardens of the British ambassador's residence in Rome to mark their 20th anniversary on Wednesday, which they will celebrate with a state banquet.

They described Italy as "such a special place -- and with such wonderful people!" in a message on social media.

Charles announced he had cancer in February 2024, without specifying which kind, but began returning to work at the end of April.

While continuing to receive treatment, he gradually ramped up his duties, including an official visit to Australia and Samoa in October.

Officials said his recent hospital stay, a few hours on March 27, was a "minor bump" in his medical journey, and he resumed engagements on April 1.

J.Martinez--SFF