King Charles hails strong ties between Britain and Italy

By Crispian Balmer

ROME (Reuters) - King Charles underlined the importance of strong ties between Italy and Britain at a time of war in Europe as he delivered a historic speech to the Italian Parliament on Wednesday.

Charles, on the third day of his state visit to Italy with Queen Camilla, became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Parliament in Rome, switching between English and Italian and drawing warm applause from lawmakers.

"Peace is never to be taken for granted," he said.

"Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share. Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need, and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter," he added.

The king praised Anglo-Italian plans to develop with Japan a new fighter jet as part of the Global Combat Air Programme initiative.

Britain quit the European Union in 2020 and the royal visit is seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to engage with its old EU allies and ease the pain of the Brexit divorce.

Charles noted that he is also the king of Canada, a country that U.S. President Donald Trump has made clear he has designs on.

Charles and Camilla were celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday and will spend the evening at a state banquet hosted by President Sergio Mattarella at his Quirinale residence.

For the visit to parliament, Camilla wore a repurposed version of her original wedding outfit in ivory silk by designer Anna Valentine.

Lower house speaker Lorenzo Fontana mentioned the anniversary in his introductory remarks, prompting more clapping from the chamber in the Montecitorio building.

Charles earlier met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the city's Villa Doria Pamphili, enjoying a walk in the garden of a building that dates from the 17th century.

The king, who is 76, is on his first overseas trip this year as he continues to undergo treatment for cancer.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer,; Writing by Keith Weir, editing by Ed Osmond)