The longest visit to a European country: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected in London for a two-day visit.
At 3 pm, 4 pm Italian time, the prime minister will cross the Downing Street door and meet the British prime minister Rishi Sunak for a bilateral meeting, an event at the top of the agenda.
The two had already met in November, on the sidelines of the Cop27 in Sharm el Sheikh, a few weeks after both took office and with whom they shared their international debut at the G20 in Bali.
The goal is to strengthen relations and lay the foundations, as Italian sources explain, to continue the work that sees Italy and the United Kingdom, both G7 countries and founders of NATO, close on many issues and in particular on defense and support for Ukraine.
The two, between whom there is "a strong sympathy", as reported by some Italian sources, assumed their office practically on the same days last October and have always made explicit their intention of wanting to strengthen relations between the two countries.
The fact is that for the premier this is a first on English soil, which hosts a community of over half a million Italians according to Aire members alone (the register of residents abroad), made up, it is revealed, of students, young workers,
The premier's visit continues and later, around 5 pm, Sunak will accompany Meloni on a visit to Westminster Abbey - where the Cosmati pavement is located, an ancient work of medieval marble workers of Roman origin - where preparations are underway for the coronation of King Charles III, scheduled for 6 May.
The premier, according to what is learned from Italian sources, will have access to a place that is almost never open to the public and is currently closed in view of the coronation.
Sunak, the same sources underline, "was keen to organize a symbolic moment" with Meloni, in addition to the time dedicated to the bilateral meeting, and will accompany Meloni personally on the visit.
A gesture of friendship that testifies to "an excellent understanding" between the two prime ministers.
The visit, it is noted, "therefore has a very high symbolic value: Meloni is the only head of government who will see the place of the coronation", whose invitations are reserved for heads of state and only secondarily for heads of government.
Overall, the British government will dedicate more than three hours to the Italian delegation, this too "
On Friday, the Prime Minister will participate in the conclusions of a workshop on agri-food at the Italian embassy together with the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, who will be in the English capital with a parallel agenda focused on the promotion of Made in Italy.
The reception will be an opportunity for the premier to meet representatives of the British government and the financial and business community.