In an unexpected change of plan, after an official visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla of England to the Vatican was postponed due to Pope Francis’s ongoing recovery from double pneumonia, the royal couple were invited to a private meeting with the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican.

In an April 9 statement, the Vatican said that “Pope Francis met privately with their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, in the afternoon today".

“In the course of the meeting, the Pope was able to congratulate their Majesties on the anniversary of their marriage and he reciprocated his wishes for his Majesty’s speedy recovery of health,” the Vatican said (King Charles has been having treatment for cancer, and recently experienced an adverse reaction to his treatment that required hospital observation).