Prince Charles reportedly disrupted Theresa May’s plans to conduct government business in the Middle East after he booked her official plane for his tour.
The Prime Minister was forced to lease a private jet for her visit to the transcontinental region after the 68-year-old royal and his wife Duchess Camilla booked the use of her official RAF aircraft for their current nine-day trip across Europe.
According to the Independent newspaper, Clarence House said the prince was entitled to use the RAF Voyager A330, which cost the taxpayer £10 million to have it refitted, because he had booked his trip before the PM announced her plans to travel.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said: "The royal visit was organised some time in advance of the PM’s Middle East visit, in discussion with the government. Two visits at the same time means one aircraft will always have to be chartered."
The royal couple have certainly had a busy time on tour as they met with the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis on Tuesday (04.04.17) during their tour of Italy.
Charles and Camilla were given a tour of The Vatican, and were handed a bronze olive branch and a copy of the Pope’s Encyclicals, including one on climate change and sustainable development.
During their tour, the royal couple were also shown the Vatican’s secret archive and looked at original documents relating to the Catholic Church and Britain, where they were shown a number of original rare letters including the last letter ever written by condemned Mary Queen of Scots on 8 February 1587 before her execution for treason.
Upon meeting Pope Francis, the pontiff urged Prince Charles to bring peace to the world during their chat which the Daily Express newspaper reports lasted for around 30 minutes.
Pope Francis said: "Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace."
To which Charles responded: "I’ll do my best."
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, 69, made the trip to the Vatican City as part of their tour of Europe, which has seen them spend six days in Italy visiting cities such as Naples and Vicenza.
Prince Charles disrupts PM’s flight
