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| Sean Coughlan | Royal Correspondent |
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| Welcome to Royal Watch, which this week is coming to you from Italy. I've been following the state visit of the King and Queen as they carry out a royal charm offensive, visiting ancient sites in Rome and sampling local food in Ravenna. They've had a warm reception, and what better place to spend a 20th wedding anniversary?
Plus, more documents about Prince Andrew's connection to China have been released. And the first episode of Meghan's new podcast has revealed a medical scare. | |
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Charles and Camilla's royal tour | King Charles and Queen Camilla – called "Carlo and Camilla" in the local press – have been in the Italian sunshine this week for a four-day state visit. They've been getting an enthusiastic reception at events in Rome, with the trip coinciding with their 20th wedding anniversary.
| There was also a private meeting with Pope Francis, who gave the royal couple his best wishes for their anniversary. Originally the state visit was going to include the Vatican, but it had to be postponed because of the Pope's health problems. But he was well enough for a 20-minute meeting with the King and Queen. |
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 | The King and Queen were "delighted" the Pope was well enough to host them. Credit: Getty | To mark their wedding anniversary, the royal couple had photographs taken in the lush garden of the British ambassador's residence. And with more romantic symbolism, they stood for pictures at the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, dedicated to the goddess of love, beside the Colosseum. |
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 | The evening of the King and Queen's wedding anniversary on Wednesday was spent at a state banquet. Credit: Getty | State visits are an unusual mix of ceremonies, meeting the crowds and serious diplomacy, with the "soft power" of royalty being deployed on behalf of the government. The King was given a formal, red-carpet welcome at the Quirinale Palace by Italy's President Sergio Mattarella. A fly-past thundered overhead the ancient monuments of Rome.
There's always a state banquet on such trips – salt-encrusted sea bass was the main course for this one – and King Charles joked about this lavish occasion with 150 guests on the night of their anniversary. "I must say it really is very good of you, Mr President, to lay on this small romantic, candle-lit dinner for two," the King told the banquet. |
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 | Guests were served a fior di latte ice cream cake with raspberries for dessert. Credit: Getty | The Queen attended one of the engagements wearing the same dress that she'd worn on her wedding day in 2005, which had been "repurposed" for her to wear again on her anniversary. |
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 | At the Italian Parliament, the Queen wore the ivory silk dress designed by Anna Valentine for her civil wedding ceremony. Credit: Getty | Alongside all the royal schmoozing is the serious business of reinforcing links with trading partners and military allies, with this trip part of the UK's wider "reset" of relations with European partners after Brexit. The King received a standing ovation in the Italian Parliament where he spoke of the need to "stand today united in defence of the democratic values".
With so much economic and diplomatic turmoil in the world, it's more important than ever to shore up these friendships with democracies. Such visits become a mix of pizza, pasta and policy, which on this occasion seems to have gone down well with their Italian hosts. |
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Royal quiz | A school in Shropshire received a letter of encouragement from the Prince and Princess of Wales as they took on a special challenge. What was it?
A. To knit a scarf long enough to wrap around a care home
B. To walk a number of steps equivalent to a world trip
C. To collect enough coins to buy a school pet
Read further down for the answer.
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Harry's legal challenge over security | The Duke of Sussex has been back in London this week to attend a Court of Appeal hearing over his level of security when visiting the UK. Prince Harry is challenging the Home Office over a decision to change the degree of protection given to him by the police, now that he is no longer a working royal and lives overseas.
| That decision was taken by the committee that oversees security for royals and VIPs, known as "Ravec", or the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures. The Home Office has said that Prince Harry receives "bespoke" protection, given to him on a case-by-case basis. That’s the same as other high-profile visitors to the UK. |
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 | Prince Harry attended the Court of Appeal in central London. Credit: Getty | But Prince Harry's legal team said that "bespoke" protection did not mean better and that he had been "singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment". His lawyers said that his attendance in person in the courtroom reflected how much this appeal meant to Prince Harry.
The Home Office lawyers have rejected Prince Harry's claims, saying there was a "continued failure to see the wood for the trees". The judges will have to give their ruling in the weeks ahead.
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Andrew's links to China | There were more awkward revelations for the Duke of York, when court documents about his connections with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo were released. The documents revealed a statement by Prince Andrew's adviser, Dominic Hampshire, that the prince's reputation was "irrecoverable".
There were also details about Prince Andrew's "communication channel" with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which included sending him birthday wishes. |
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 | MI5 intervened to warn against Andrew having contact with the alleged spy. Credit: Getty | It painted a rather bleak picture of Prince Andrew, seeking out a role and prominence when he was isolated and under financial pressure. The documents suggested he turned to Yang and possible opportunities in China as "light at the end of the tunnel". Yang has denied any wrongdoing. |
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Your Royal watch | Last week, we asked for your views on Prince William's role as the Prince of Wales. Some say the title should be shelved as it symbolises English oppression, while others argue Prince William is a good ambassador.
Maura in the UK said: "I can understand that Wales, in this day and age, may feel that the title should be shelved, but I personally feel that Prince William is a very good ambassador for the whole of the UK and does ensure that he retains a strong connection with Wales."
Denise in the UK wrote: "there is nothing oppressive" about the role. While Lionel in France said: "I don't think we should see this role with all its original historical weight… but rather as an honorary role."
Jenny in New Zealand said: 'This is a question for the people of Wales to answer". And Nita, in the US explained that "as a Welshwoman" she was "proud" to call Prince William "the prince of the country I call home".
Carol in Canada said the title of "ambassador" might be more fitting.
For this week's question, what should be the King and Queen's next destination for an overseas visit? Please remember to include your name and the country you're writing from. Send your thoughts to royalwatch@bbc.co.uk. | |
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A piece of royal history | A lifeboat crew ended up rescuing a 1930s yacht that was used to teach King Charles and Princess Anne how to sail. Elizabeth II and Prince Philip bought the vessel, called the Bloodhound, in 1962. It was previously used by the Royal Family on holidays in the Western Isles. |
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 | Credit: Getty | In 2010, it was bought by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. And on Sunday, Caister Lifeboat was called by HM Coastguard to rescue the yacht near Bacton in Norfolk after it took on water.
Crew were put up in a hotel overnight, but chairman of Caister Lifeboat Paul Garrod chose to stay on the yacht. Speaking about the boat, he said "she is the most beautiful thing I ever did see".
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Meghan's medical scare | The Duchess of Sussex has launched a new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, and revealed a medical scare. Meghan said that after giving birth to one of her children (she didn't say which one), she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.
The condition has symptoms such as high blood pressure and headaches, and can develop into serious complications if not treated.
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 | Speaking about the condition, Meghan said: "It's so rare. And it's so scary." Credit: Getty | It was something that Meghan had to manage privately. "You're still trying to juggle all these things and the world doesn't know what is happening, quietly, and in the quiet you are still trying to show up for people," said Meghan.
Her first podcast guest was Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of the Bumble dating app, who had also suffered from pre-eclampsia. |
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Answer | The answer is A - knitting a scarf long enough to wrap around a care home. Pupils at St Giles' CofE Primary School have been supported by people across the country, as they aim to complete their supersized scarf by 14 July. Part of the letter said Prince William and Catherine would like to "express their sincere hope that the project is a success". See the scarf here. | |
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