King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted an Italy-themed dinner on Friday evening at their country residence at Highgrove to celebrate their forthcoming trip to Italy in April. Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Charles and Camilla will meet Pope Francis in a trip which will coincide with their 20th wedding anniversary.
Francesco Mazzei collaborated with actor Stanley Tucci to design a menu for the black-tie event. The evening celebrated Anglo-Italian relations and the Slow Food movement, emphasizing sustainability and quality in gastronomy. Mazzei crafted an Italian-inspired menu using predominantly British ingredients, such as Yorkshire-made pecorino and Scottish crab, while the only Italian import was Farchioni olive oil. Slow Fashion and sustainability were also celebrated.
Guests included Italy’s ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, Donatella Versace, Dame Helen Mirren, and David and Victoria Beckham.
King Charles thanked Stanley Tucci for organizing and inspiring the menu and joked of the combined culinary efforts of chef Mazzei and Tucci: “I can only hope they are still talking to each other at the end of it all!”
SHOTLIST
– MS Chef piping the desserts in kitchen
– VS Italian chef Francesco Mazzei overseeing the various courses
– VS Fashion mannequins on display
– C/U Candles in dining room
– MS Millinery hats on display
– VS Stanley Tucci mingling and chatting at the drinks reception
– MS Italian Ambassador Inigo Lambertini
– MS Donatella Versace
– WS Charles greets Italian Ambassador
– WS Charles greets Stanley Tucci
– MCU Camilla chatting with David and Victoria Beckham
– MS Camilla chats to actress Dame Helen Mirren
– VS Charles mixes a martini with the help of Italian mixologist Alessandro Palazzi, with Stanley Tucci looking on
– MS Italian Ambassador makes speech at the dinner
– MS Stanley Tucci speaks at the dinner
– MS King Charles speaks at the dinner