King Charles greeting guests at the Italian banquet (Image: PA)
and are celebrating a night of Italian cuisine complete with A-listers, including .
The pair have invited the Italian-American Devil Wears Prada actor and well-known foodie Stanley Tucci, as well as the Italian ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, to the King’s estate in Gloucestershire. Also invited to the dazzling dinner were the fashion designer, Donatella Versace, and Dame Helen Mirren.
Guest Beckham is close to the Royal Family and was announced in 2024 as an ambassador of the King’s Foundation, and has even had private meetings there with His Majesty, bonding over a shared love of the countryside and, bee-keeping.
Tonight’s lavish menu featured canapés including Rare & Pasture ‘Salumi’, Tuscan-style Paté and Coppa, Yorkshire Pecorino cheese Puffs and British vegetables Caponata, washed down with the King’s own Highgrove Sparkling Wine.
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Queen Camilla chatted to Dame Helen Mirren and the Beckhams (Image: PA)
David and Victoria Beckham joined the royals for an Italian meal (Image: PA)
All guests are enjoying a feast of sustainable Slow Food created by renowned Italian chef Francesco Mazzei and inspired by Tucci, who fronted the TV series Tucci – The Heart Of Italy.
Mr Mazzei joked: “This is my first time cooking for the King. I’m quite excited about that.
“It is an Italian menu with British produce, well 99%, as the extra virgin olive oil is Italian.”
James Bond-inspired martinis were prepared by Italian mixologist Alessandro Palazzi, using Italian flavours and herbs from the Highgrove Gardens.
The dinner celebrates the best of sustainable ‘Slow Food and Slow Fashion’, boating a glorious home-grown menu showcasing the best of British produce with a touch of Italian flair.
The menu included a starter of Scottish Crab Panzanella, paired with Gavi dei Gavi La Scolca Black label 2023.
The ‘primi’ course (traditionally pasta) is Westcombe Highland Ricotta and Highgrove fine Herbs Ravioli with Isle of Wight Tomato passata with a glass of Gavi dei Gavi La Scolca Black label 2023.
The ‘secondi’ course (traditionally meat) features: Suffolk Red Porchetta, Pumpkin and Sage mash and Tuscan kale with a nice Barbaresco Gaja 2021.
For dessert there is Zuppa Inglese and Biscotti with Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Zenato.
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The menu for tonight was inspired by Italian-American actor Stanley Tucci (Image: PA)
A view of tonight’s dining places (Image: PA)
King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to join guests at the reception where students and graduates from The King’s Foundation training programmes will provide demonstrations on their work in sustainable fashion and traditional heritage skills, such as, millinery, embroidery, furniture making and fashion design.
The King will be sat at dinner next to the Italian ambassador and Felicity Blunt, the wife of Stanley Tucci and sister of actress Emily Blunt, while Queen Camilla will be next to Mr Tucci.
The stunning tables for around 80 guests were laden with fresh seasonal flowers and napkins rings made by student milliners on King’s Foundation courses.
, they will also undertake engagements in Rome and Ravenna, celebrating the strong bilateral relationship between Italy and the United Kingdom. They will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican and celebrate the Catholic Church’s Pilgrims of Hope jubilee year.