Photos of King Charles III and Queen Camilla visiting the Vatican to pray with Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain's King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain’s King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

By ANDREW MEDICHINI

VATICAN CITY (AP) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla have visited the Vatican to pray with Pope Leo XIV. This historic meeting aims to strengthen ties between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. The event marks the first time since the Reformation that the heads of these two churches have prayed together.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla listen national anthems in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla listen national anthems in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Swiss Guards march prior to the arrival of Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Swiss Guards march prior to the arrival of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's Queen Camilla arrives with King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP) — Britain’s Queen Camilla arrives with King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla listen national anthems in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla listen national anthems in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican for a state visit, where they will meet with Pope Leo XIV and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV, center, poses flanked by Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Pope Leo XIV, center, poses flanked by Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV, center, is flanked by Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Pope Leo XIV, center, is flanked by Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)