King Charles made a light-hearted quip about his health during a tree-planting ceremony on the final day of his state visit to Italy.
The 76-year-old monarch was visiting Villa Wolkonsky in Rome, where he met with members of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) to learn more about their work in biodiversity, climate action, and human health.
As part of the engagement, the King planted a tree in the gardens—a gift from President Sergio Mattarella, sourced from the Castelporziano Estate.
After performing his signature gesture of raising the spade triumphantly in the air once he had finished covering the tree’s roots with soil, the King turned to British embassy staff and guests gathered on the lawn.
With a smile, he joked: “Well, I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.”
His comment prompted warm laughter and applause from the crowd. Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, then added playfully, “One more,” in reference to the young sapling.
He later unveiled a commemorative plaque for the occasion before glancing at the freshly planted tree and chuckling, “Needs a bit of water.”
The moment offered a glimpse of the King’s enduring sense of humour and optimism, even amid his ongoing health challenges.
