The King and Queen hosted a black-tie dinner at Highgrove House, celebrating Italian cuisine and the “slow food” movement, attended by celebrities including Victoria and David Beckham, Dame Helen Mirren, and Stanley Tucci. The event featured a sustainable slow food-themed feast, with the Italian ambassador Inigo Lambertini also in attendance.
The slow food initiative began in 1986 in Bra, Italy, when food writer Carlo Petrini protested against the opening of a McDonald’s in Rome, sparking national demonstrations. The King has been a long-time advocate of this philosophy, expressing during the dinner that slow food and Italy hold a special place in his heart. He remarked, “Good food brings people together, and what we choose to eat helps to define us—as families, communities, and nations. It provides sustenance and comfort, binding generations through shared recipes. It is a form of beauty—’edible art.'”
Before the dinner, the Queen chatted with David and Victoria about life in the Cotswolds, which Victoria described as “so beautiful.” David added, “We love it. We are very happy there. We’ve got chickens,” to which Camilla responded, “I’ve got chickens too!”
The King also had a light-hearted moment while making a martini with Italian mixologist Alessandro Palazzi, laughing when a lemon nearly went up his nose. The evening’s menu was crafted by renowned Italian chef Francesco Mazzei, inspired by Stanley Tucci.
