STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP/Getty ImagesA present fit for a prince!
Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Francis met for the first time in a brief, informal meeting at the Vatican on Thursday, where the pontiff presented Her Majesty with a gift for the future King of England.
According to reports, Francis presented the queen with a stone globe with a cross on it for Prince George, in honor of the 8-month-old's first trip overseas to Australia and New Zealand (the little one, along with father Prince William and mother Kate Middleton is scheduled to depart this weekend).
The queen was also given an antique parchment, which dates back to the 1679, with an "Urbi et Orbi" message by Cardinal Cesare Facchinetti. The message, which means "to the city and the world," is typically given at Easter and Christmas.
Meanwhile, the queen presented the Argentine native with a basket of "jams and drinks"—including a bottle of whiskey—which were all produced on royal grounds.
The short visit lasted for only 30 minutes, as the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were only in Italy for less than five hours before catching a private jet back to London.
This is the fifth time the queen has met with a pope in Rome, although her recent meeting with Francis marks her most informal visit.
Back in London, Will, Kate and George are preparing for their family trip down under, which will commence on April 7 in Wellington and end on April 25 in Canberra.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will bring their son, his first public appearance since his christening, to an event for new parents and their babies on April 9.
Over the weekend, Kensington Palace also released a new photo of the couple and their 8-month-old son (who has grown so much since the last time we saw him!), which features the beaming trio posing in their apartment window along with their cocker spaniel, Lupo.
Can't wait to see more pics of the wee one!