It was a historic occasion for King Charles and Queen Camilla today as they joined Pope Leo XIV (and prayed alongside him) as part of an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel. Ahead of the service, the trio met at the Vatican, but it was this moment of public prayer beneath the Michelangelo ceiling that felt the most jaw-dropping. It also resulted in some particularly striking images of the king and queen.
Vatican Photographer Captures Breathtaking Photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla with the Pope
Those Sistine Chapel views
Published Oct 23, 2025
•2:43pm
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The images of the king and the Pope, alongside Camilla—who ceremoniously wore black—mark a poignant moment that is also the first time a British monarch has prayed with a Pope in public since the Reformation in the 16th Century (in other words, this hasn’t happened in 500 years). The Sistine Chapel views, plus the solemnity of the service are on full display in the images, which were taking by Vatican Media and posted to Instagram by the Royal Family.
Vatican Media/Getty Images
This particular visit by Charles and Camilla is said to mark a “significant moment” in relations between the Catholic Church and Church of England, of which Charles is Supreme Governor, according to People. It also comes during the 2025 Jubilee Year, which occurs every 25 years and is a special time for the Catholic Church. (It’s also often referred to as the Holy Year and was first established in the 14th century by Pope Boniface VIII as a way to focus on 12 months of forgiveness and reconciliation.)
The service itself was designed to underline the harmony between the two churches. In addition to the joint moment of prayer, today’s visit also felt meaningful in that it carries out a commitment made by Charles when he traveled to Rome in early April to meet with Pope Francis, who was ailing, and unfortunately, unable to carry out their engagements as planned. (Pope Francis passed away on April 21.)
Back to the photos: They’re a breathtaking chronicle of a historical day.
