SH0CK: BBC Breakfast INTERRUPTED For ‘HISTORIC’ King Charles Announcement As Prince Andrew Scandal Deepens
BBC Breakfast issued an unexpected update from King Charles just hours after he landed in Vatican City. On Wednesday (October 22), the 76-year-old monarch touched down in Rome with his wife, Queen Camilla, at the start of a historic state visit. During their trip, they will meet Pope Leo in a symbolic display of unity between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.
During Thursday’s visit (October 23) to the BBC studios, hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty welcomed BBC correspondent Mark Lowen onto the show to give viewers a deeper insight into the “historic” event. Speaking live from the Vatican ahead of the momentous occasion, the broadcaster revealed that a British monarch hasn’t prayed alongside the Catholic pope in nearly 500 years.
He explained: “It’s not since 1534 that a British monarch will have prayed next to a Catholic Pope. That was when King Henry VIII broke with Rome and set Britain on the path to Protestantism and the anglican church.
“He, King Charles, is still the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and yet this morning he will go inside the Sistine Chapel behind me in the splendor of the Vatican and pray publicly alongside Pope Leo XIV.”
The TV presenter went on to reveal the impressive itinerary for the royals on the historic day, which he claimed would symbolise the two wings of the Christian church coming together today.”
He went on: “It will be a meeting of two heads of state but also a meeting of the two churches, between which there has been so much mistrust for centuries, but yet over the decades past, there has been a growing bond between the two wings of the Christian church.
“And therefore, this is very much a sign of that symbolism. Then, after that, the two men will talk more and have a meeting, and then King Charles and Queen Camilla will go to the church of St Paul outside the walls.
“That is a Papal Basilica, where King Charles will be given the title of Royal Confrater, looking after the tomb of St Paul, which the British crown has traditionally provided the upkeep of.
“And he will be given a special seat with his coat of arms engraved into it, allowing him and his heirs to use that in future years.” But the visit comes against the backdrop of the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew.
“It was announced last Friday (October 17) that Prince Andrew would lose his titles and would no longer be called the Duke of York.” The Vatican trip has been a cause of concern for the Palace, which hopes to end the consistent negative press about the disgraced royal.
Mark Lowen explained: “The fear in Buckingham Palace is that this hugely symbolic visit will be somewhat overshadowed by the scandal over Prince Andrew and the questions of Andrew’s living arrangements on the Windsor estate.
“But Buckingham Palace is absolutely determined that the spotlight today is on this hugely symbolic visit, something that is extremely important to King Charles and extremely important to the Pope as well.
“The two men will discuss issues of climate and issues that are close to their hearts and also try to show the symbolism of the two wings of the Christian church coming together today.”
