THE Queen met Pope Francis for the first time on Wednesday.
During a one-day visit to Rome, she had a private meeting with
the Pontiff, during which presents were exchanged. She gave the
Pope a hamper of British goods, including honey from Buckingham
Palace and a bottle of Balmoral whisky. He gave her a lapis lazuli
orb for Prince George, adorned with the cross of St Edward the
Confessor.
The Queen suggested that her her eight-month-old grandson would
be "thrilled by that . . . when he is a little older."