Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Today's prayer at the Sistine Chapel - attended by King Charles and Pope Leo XIV - marked the first time the supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the supreme governor of the Church of England have prayed together since the Reformation in the 16th Century.

It was a red carpet arrival at the Vatican for the royals' motorcade. The monarch then met Pope Leo XIV for the first time and exchanged gifts, before heading to the Sistine Chapel for the long-awaited prayer - a striking sight after nearly 500 years, writes Aleem Maqbool, the BBC's religion editor.

The day's packed agenda also saw the King given a chair bearing his coat of arms before a service at the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls.

The events are being hailed by some within the church as a "great step forward in unity" and - according to the King's spokesperson - were intended to strengthen ties between religious groups in a challenging world.

However - the scandal around Prince Andrew was an inescapable backdrop to this visit, says our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, and Buckingham Palace will be hoping the pomp and ceremony of today's visit will have shifted the focus back to the working royals.

As the royals' visit comes to an end, we're closing our live coverage. You can read our news piece about the visit today, or take a look at this refresher about the King and the Royal Family.

Thank you for joining us today.

Elliot Burrin
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We've heard a lot today that this is the first time a pope and monarch have prayed together in nearly 500 years - and it's worth mentioning why that's the case.

It goes back to Henry VIII breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534. He created the Church of England, made himself the Supreme Head, and destroyed hundreds of monasteries and religious artefacts in the process.

Catholics were banned from worshipping in England at various points - and it's only in the past century that relations between Roman Catholics and the Church of England have improved.

The two churches now work together on numerous global projects. King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, has visited popes at the Vatican before. But this is the first time he’s prayed with them.

As we reported a little earlier, Queen Camilla's last engagement today is a meeting with Catholic sisters from the International Union of Superiors General (IUSG).

These nuns are involved in advocacy work focused on female empowerment - including promoting women's education and stopping human trafficking.

Here are some of the latest pictures coming in.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

The King and the Pope exchanged titles during this visit. But what exactly do these titles mean?

The Pope gave Charles the title of Royal Confrater, linking him to the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls.

It shows he’s part of the confraternity of the historic church, which holds the tomb of St Paul and was associated with the English monarchy before the Reformation.

In return, the King made Pope Leo the Papal Confrater of St George's Chapel in Windsor, as a sign of spiritual fellowship.

He also conferred on him the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. This is recognised as the highest British military order available.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Though he's said goodbye to King Charles and Queen Camilla, Pope Leo XIV's day of engagements isn't over yet.

He's now taking part in an international summit called the World Meeting of Popular Movements - which sends delegations from across the globe to discuss land, housing and work.

The audience with the Pope is taking place in the Paul VI Hall, in the Vatican.

King Charles is now at the Pontifical Beda College.

He's attending a reception, where he's meeting trainee priests from across the Commonwealth, British nationals working in the Vatican, and Commonwealth ambassadors to the Holy See.

In some new pictures coming in to us, the King waters an orange tree that's been planted to mark his and Queen Camilla's visit.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, VATICAN MEDIA

After this historic morning, which saw the King and Pope pray together, the royals' state visit to the Vatican is continuing at pace.

Here's what's been happening:

• The King and Queen said goodbye to the Pope after the prayer at the Sistine Chapel earlier today
• The royals then headed to their next engagement at the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls
• Having kept to the traditional female dress code of wearing black around the Pope, the Queen then appeared at the basilica wearing white
• At the basilica, the King sat in a specially crafted chair bearing his coat of arms, which was given to him earlier - though the chair will remain in the church
• Following the service inside the basilica, the royals met local schoolchildren, members of the public and the congregation

They're now on to the final leg of today's schedule - a meeting at Pontifical Beda College for the King, and a meeting with nuns for the Queen.

We'll bring you more on this as we get it.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

After making their way out of the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Wall, the King and Queen met school children from nearby St Paul's School, as well as members of the public and the congregation.

Here are some of the images.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lowen
BBC News, reporting from the Vatican

Image source, Reuters

After the royals' visit to the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls, there will be a meeting at Pontifical Beda College for the King.

Here, King Charles will meet trainee priests from across the Commonwealth, British nationals working in the Vatican and Commonwealth ambassadors to the Holy See.

The Queen, meanwhile, will meet nuns who are working in various areas - including promoting the education of women and preventing their trafficking.

That will be the end of their two-day state visit to the Holy See.

It's a visit that's carried so much symbolism in so many ways.

Let's take a look at some of the images from the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls earlier.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The service inside the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls has now finished, and the King and Queen are making their way outside.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've reported earlier, after meeting for the first time, King Charles and Pope Leo exchanged gifts at the Vatican.

We shared a full rundown earlier on what was swapped - and below you can see how the royals' private moment with the Pope unfolded.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Rome

The King and Queen walk down the steps to the site of the tomb of St Paul.

It’s a moment of calm and prayer at a site that’s at the roots of the Christian faith.

Camilla is now wearing white - a dress by couturier Anna Valentine - after previously keeping to the dress code of wearing black when meeting the Pope earlier in the day.

The abbot of this church is presiding over the service.

The King watched from his seat as a service took place at the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls.

While the chair is given to the King, he won't be taking it back to the UK. As we mentioned earlier, the seat will stay in the church.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, the King and Queen have just entered the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls.

From his special seat - more on this earlier - the King is now listening to a service.

Afterwards, the royal couple will meet the craftsman who made the seat, before heading outside the basilica to meet the public and children from nearby schools.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are now inside the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls, ahead of a 30-minute Vespers service.

The Queen is now wearing white, having changed from her black attire earlier - we'll bring you more on this later.

The King has just been given a specially crafted seat bearing his coat of arms.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

King Charles and Queen Camilla have just arrived at the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls.

Stay with us and we’ll continue to bring you live updates.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican

We’re inside the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls and it is absolutely massive, even by the standards of churches in Rome.

It’s named after St Paul, the apostle who is buried here, under the altar, with steps leading down to the tomb.

Further back in the church there’s a gorgeous golden mosaic ceiling above an elaborately decorated stone seat.

Beside that is another special seat that’s been made for the King’s visit.

Before the Reformation, this was once a church with a particular connection to the English monarchy, back to the Saxons.

So, this is a symbolic moment of joining up the dots of history.

The King and the Queen are now headed to the Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls - which is where the tomb of St Paul is located.

Here, King Charles will be given a chair which is decorated with the King's coat of arms and the Latin inscription "Ut unum sint" ("That they may be one").

The chair will be kept in the church for the King for when he returns, or for his heirs and successors.

Image source, The Holy See

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Vatican

Queen Camilla has kept to the traditional dress code of women wearing black when they meet the Pope.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is also dressed in black. She read a Bible verse during the prayer service earlier on.

This is seen as a sign of respect.

Although under the same dress code, Catholic queens and princesses can wear white.

But it makes you wonder, in the 21st Century, whether anyone would complain or really care if a woman arrived in something more colourful?

Image source, PA Media