Italians have discovered a popular British teatime biscuit thanks to King Charles name dropping the sweet treat during his speech.
The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, are on the final day of their state visit to Italy where they have met the Italian Prime Minister - Giorgia Meloni - and Pope Francis.
Yesterday, the King became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament.
During his speech, Charles highlighted the shared history between the UK and Italy as well as both countries joint support for Ukraine.
Whilst the King impressed the parliament for giving part of his speech in Italian, it is his reference to a British biscuit which has left Italians curious about its connection to their country.
During a portion of the speech given in English, Charles spoke about the support Britain gave to Italy during the unification of Italy in the 1860s - which saw the Royal Navy support Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi.
The King said: 'As Garibaldi landed near Marsala in Sicily in May 1860, two Royal Navy warships stood watch.
'Garibaldi was, as you know, hugely admired in Britain. When he visited in 1864 to thank the British people for their support, Garibaldimania gripped the country.'
The King made the comment while making a speech at the Italian parliament
King Charles became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament
Queen Camilla and Foreign Secretary David Lammy applauding Charles during his speech
Thanks to Charles' speech Italians have now discovered the popular teatime Garibaldi biscuit (pictured). They have been shocked to discover that one of the founding fathers' of their nation is more famous in Britain as the name an oblong raisin-filled biscuit
Charles added that the leader was so popular in Britain that there is biscuit named after Garibaldi which the King called the 'ultimate mark of British esteem'.
The reference prompted a muted response with only a few awkward laughs in the chamber.
But since the King's speech, curious Italians have been shocked to discover that one of the founding fathers' of their nation is more famous in Britain as the name an oblong raisin-filled biscuit.
'Garibaldi, in our country, was celebrated more with monuments than with sweets,' the Italian newspaper La Repubblica wrote.
Perhaps equally surprising to Italians, is the deep connection Garibaldi has to Great Britain with the King acknowledging that half a million people greeted him in London.
Aside from biscuits, hairstyles and songs were also inspired by the leader.
Beyond references to confectionaries, on a more serious note, the King used his speech to warn that peace was 'never to be taken for granted'.
Referring to the United Kingdom and Italy's joint support for Ukraine, as well as the bravery of civilian Italian resistance fighters in the Second World War, he said: 'Today, sadly, the echoes of those times – which we fervently hoped had been consigned to history – reverberate across our continent.
Charles and Camilla on a royal walkabout in Rome. The King and Queen have been on a state visit in Italy
General Giuseppe Garibaldi was one of the founding fathers' of modern Italy. The leader was popular in the UK hence his namesake biscuit
Whilst the King impressed the parliament for giving part of his speech in Italian, it is his reference to a British biscuit which has left Italians curious about its connection to their country
Beyond references to confectionaries, on a more serious note, the King used his speech to warn that peace was 'never to be taken for granted'
'Our younger generations can now see in the news every day on their smartphones and tablets that peace is never to be taken for granted. Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share.
'Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need – and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter. Our Armed Forces stand side by side in NATO. We are grateful beyond measure for the role Italy plays in hosting key NATO bases and taking a leading role in so many overseas operations.'
He highlighted imminent plans by the Royal Navy to undertake a major exercise in the Mediterranean with Italian forces as 'a powerful symbol of our cooperation'.
And he praised a joined British, Italian and Japanese air combat programme to build 'our next generation fighter aircraft'. He added: 'We will remember the terrible price of war – and of the precious gift of peace.'
The King was the first British monarch to be invited to give a speech to the joint session of the Italian parliament with representatives from both the Upper and Lower House and only the fourth non-Italian to have addressed the chamber from the President's Podium.
He switched easily between English and Italian, earning him warm applause from his audience, with his wife watching from the 'Benches of Nine'. Describing himself as 'enormously touched' to have been asked he said the gesture was all the more special on their 20th wedding anniversary.
The King and Queen during a private meeting with the Pope yesterday afternoon
After his speech, the King and Queen met Pope Francis in the Vatican for a private meeting.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the Holy See Press Office stated: 'Pope Francis met privately with Their Majesties, King Charles and Queen Camilla, this afternoon.
'In the course of the meeting, the Pope expressed his best wishes to Their Majesties on the occasion of their wedding anniversary and reciprocated His Majesty's wishes for a speedy recovery of his health.'
