Special gifts to mark Vatican visit - 27/04/09

The meeting between the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Pope Benedict XVI is to be marked with an exchange of special gifts.

A private audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church will be held in the Vatican when Charles and Camilla meet the Pope as part of their two-day visit to Italy.

The visit, which will be remembered through the swapping of unique gifts, comes just weeks after an announcement that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been in talks with Buckingham Palace about reversing a ban on heirs to the throne marrying Catholics.

It is now expected that the issue will be raised at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in November in an attempt to end centuries of discrimination against Catholics.

However, it is unknown whether the proposals will be discussed by the Prince and the Pope.

Following Catholic tradition Camilla will be required to dress in black with a matching veil when she meets the Pope after the Prince has met the Pontiff alone.

No information has been given about what gifts will be exchanged, but reports that a reminder of Henry VIII's divorce will be given as an official gift have been denied.

Special gifts to mark Vatican visit - 27/04/09

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