A statement from the Foreign Office

Further to the previous post on Geoffrey Robertson, the FCO has confirmed in "comments attributable to a spokesman" that, "Contrary to some assertions, the Lateran Treaty in 1929 was not essential to allow the diplomatic recognition of the Holy See. The UK first established diplomatic bilateral relations with the Holy See in 1479. Relations were ruptued in 1559 but were restored in 1914, 15 years prior to that treaty".