LONDON– Queen Elizabeth II will visit the Eternal City in April for a private meeting with President Napolitano and an audience with Pope Francis, Buckingham Palace announced.

 The Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, will have a lunch with the Italian head of state April 3 at the Quirinal Palace, the statement said, followed by an audience with the pontiff in the Vatican.

 The 87-year-old British monarch had been due to visit Italy last year but the trip was cancelled at last minute because of health problems.