A gesture with an all-Italian flavour marked the meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and King Charles III, who were on an official visit to Italy.

A Nutella for King Charles, a gesture to tell the story of Italy. Nutella, a beloved Italian product, is often seen as a symbol of Italian culture and hospitality. During the institutional meeting at Villa Pamphilj, the Prime Minister gave the British sovereign a curious and symbolic gift: a jar of personalised Nutella, with the name “Charles” printed on the label in gold letters. Alongside the jar intended for King Charles III, Meloni also sent a second jar, dedicated to Queen Camilla, which was also personalised with her name. Accompanying the gift was a handwritten note from the Prime Minister, ironically, with instructions for enjoying the product on the sofa during a grey, rainy day.

That same day, a few hours earlier, King Charles addressed the joint Chambers with a speech spanned history, art, and memory. He gracefully cited Shakespeare and Falcone, Garibaldi and Marconi, Paola Del Din and Italian biodiversity. His imperfect but heartfelt Italian added a personal touch to his speech. And, a rare thing, he mentioned anti-fascism in a Chamber where the term is often avoided, underscoring the moment’s significance. “I know that today we are all thinking of Paola,” he said, “and we pay homage to her courage.” Paola Del Din, a partisan from Friuli, is 101 years old and the only person still alive with the Gold Medal of Military Valor of the Resistance. The Chamber rose to its feet. Long applause. No one had asked for it. No one had foreseen it.