Queen Elizabeth II to visit Vatican

The Queen, accompanied by her spouse Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will pay a visit at the invitation of the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend a private lunch to be hosted by Napolitano at the Presidential Palace. "Following the private lunch the Queen and Duke will have an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican City, " wrote the statement. The Italian Presidential Palace, Quirinale and the Vatican's official website, news.va also announced the official visit by the Queen and the Duke. The one-day visit of the royal couple to Italy was originally scheduled last year but was delayed due to the Queen's ill health. Additionally, the 87-year-old Queen, also head of the Church of the England, and Prince Philip are to make a three-day state visit to France in June.