Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Queen Meets Pope Francis For The First Time


Gifts fit for a Queen: The royal couple gave the Pope a huge hamper filled with goods from royal estates, including a bottle of whiskey. In return he gave them a lapis lazuli orb for eight-month-old great-grandson George
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited the Pope Francis earlier today at the Vatican in Rome. The couple had a private audience with the Pope for 17 minutes, in which Queen Elizabeth smiled as she apologised for being 20 minutes late.


Grand occasion: Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, left, and The Queen walk in the courtyard of the Quirinale Presidential Palace after listening to the national anthems
The Pope presented the Queen with a lapis lazuli orb - a semi-precious stone - decorated with a silver cross of Edward the Confessor, the 11th Century English King who was made a saint, as a gift for their great grand son, eight-month-old prince George of Cambridge.

Stately: The Queen and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano walk past Courrassiers presidential guards inside the Quirinale Presidential Palace on Thursday
The Queen and Prince Philipsin turn presented the Pope with a luxury hamper which contained 18 items from Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral including two types of honey, a bottle of whiskey, 'Coronation Best Bitter, 'Grandad's chutney' and 'Sandringham handmade aromatherapy soaps'.


Ready and waiting: Pope Francis arrives together with Father Leonardo Sapienza to meet The Queen
The audience with Pope Francis was the fifth meeting The Queen, who is head of the Church of the England, has held with a Pope in the Vatican
The Pope smiles as the Queen and the Duke of Edingburgh describe the products in the hamper they presented to him
Present and correct: The lapis lazuli orb for Prince George is inscribed with 'Pope Francis, to His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge'
Blue for a boy: The box Prince George's present came in
Cordial: Pope Francis, the Queen and Prince Philip talk at the Vatican while seated on elegant red chairs
Movers and shakers: The meeting between the Pope and monarch was very friendly in nature
The Queen had been scheduled to visit Italy last year but the trip had to be postponed because she was unwell
The Pope shakes hands with his Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in the Pope's study
Smiles better: The Queen and Pope beam at the cameras
Group photo: The Queen and her staff with the Pope in the Vatican
Happy days: The Queen smiles with Pope Francis
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