The King and Queen hosted a black-tie dinner at Highgrove House to celebrate Italian cuisine and the "slow food" movement, with various celebrities in attendance. Among the guests were Victoria and David Beckham, Dame Helen Mirren, and Stanley Tucci. They were joined by the Italian ambassador, Inigo Lambertini, for a feast centered around sustainable, slow food.
The slow food initiative began in 1986 in Bra, Italy, when food writer Carlo Petrini protested the opening of a McDonald's in Rome's Piazza di Spagna, sparking widespread national outcry. King Charles has long supported this philosophy, expressing during the dinner that slow food and Italy are "dear to my heart." Renowned Italian chef Francesco Mazzei crafted the menu, which was inspired by Tucci, who starred in the TV series "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy."
This event follows Buckingham Palace's announcement that the King and Queen will visit Italy and the Holy See in April to mark their 20th wedding anniversary. They will join Pope Francis to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year and will visit both Rome and Ravenna during their state visits.
The royals also joined representatives from Slow Food and Slow Fashion to acknowledge their efforts in promoting sustainability. Inigo Lambertini attended with his wife, Mrs. Anna Maria Lambertini, along with Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food. The guest list included notable figures from the fashion industry, such as Renzo Rosso of Diesel, Remo Ruffini of Moncler, Brunello Cucinelli, and Donatella Versace. Among the thirty "ambassadors" of slow fashion was Maurizio Marinella, who adhered to the tuxedo dress code.
Guests enjoyed a starter of Tuscan pâté and coppa, Yorkshire pecorino cheese puffs, and a British vegetable caponata tartlet paired with Highgrove sparkling wine. The main course featured Scottish crab panzanella ravioli with Westcombe ricotta and Highgrove herbs, followed by Suffolk red porchetta with pumpkin and sage purée, Tuscan black cabbage, accompanied by Gavi dei Gavi La Scolca Etichetta Nera 2023 white wine and Barbaresco Gaja 2021 red wine. For dessert, there was trifle and biscuits served with the red dessert wine Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Zenato. The cocktails were crafted by mixologist Alessandro Palazzi, utilizing aromatic herbs from the gardens at Highgrove.
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