The historic meeting and prayer service was also publicly lamented by the Orange Order, an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants.

This is because Camilla does not have permission to wear white when meeting the pope; only seven women in the world have that privilege. Protocol means that most women meeting the pope should wear black, with no cleavage, as well a mantilla, which is a kind of headscarf.

Pope Francis inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome's main prison on Thursday, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church's once every quarter-century celebration that is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

Almost two-thirds of humanity—more than five billion people—live in countries where serious violations of religious freedom are taking place, according to the 2025 “Religious Freedom in the World Report.

Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the Vatican on Thursday for a historic visit to forge closer relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, a welcome spiritual respite for the royals from the turmoil at home over the Epstein sex scandal.