Queen And Prince Philip To Visit Pope In Rome

The Queen and Prince Philip will visit Rome in April, where they will have an audience with the Pope, it has been announced.

Buckingham Palace said of the April 3 trip: "Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are visiting at the invitation of the President of Italy, President Napolitano.

"The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit the presidential palace where they will attend a private lunch hosted by the President.

"Following the private lunch, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican."

The one-day visit had originally been scheduled for last year but was postponed because the Queen was unwell.

The announcement comes a day after news that the monarch and her husband are to make a three-day state visit to France in June.

They will attend D-Day events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Following successful celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 in which younger royals toured the Commonwealth on her behalf, the Queen has cut back on long-haul overseas trips.

The Prince of Wales stepped in for his mother at last year's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka - as head of the Commonwealth, she had attended every one since 1973.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are going on an official trip to Australia in April.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.