Charles and Camilla's Italian Job
Plus a foodie feast at Highgrove and the heartwarming story from the Himalayas you may have missed
Hi everyone, it’s Emily here with my weekly newsletter.
Now I don’t know about you, but I’m writing this at a window with a view of a very cold and rainy London and feel very much in need of some sunshine.
Happily, Buckingham Palace has now confirmed that the King and Queen’s State Visits to Italy and the Vatican will happen in April, which has put quite the spring in my step.
It seems the royal couple are just as excited too. As you read this, they’ll be joining Hollywood star Stanley Tucci, David and Victoria Beckham, Donatella Versace and Inigo Lambertini, the Italian Ambassador to the UK, for an Italian Slow Food inspired dinner at Highgrove (read on to see the full menu).
You’ve probably also seen reports this week that the trip will coincide with their 20th wedding anniversary, leading to the prospect of a romantic celebration in Rome or Ravenna, the two cities they are due to spend time in.
What goes around…
There’s a sweet circularity to this story. Back in April 2005, Charles and Camilla were forced to postpone their scheduled April 9 wedding by a day so he could attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. (Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who was due to give a blessing at the wedding, also headed to Rome, as did prime minister Tony Blair and more than 200 world leaders.)
Two decades on, husband and wife are now King and Queen and will visit the current Pope Francis together for a third time, having met him on visits to the Vatican in 2017 and 2019.
As well as joining celebrations for the Holy See’s 2025 Jubilee Year, they’ll carry out engagements to highlight the UK’s strong relationship with Italy, and I’d put money on at least one of them involving food and wine!
At tonight’s dinner at Highgrove, the King and his guests will enjoy a menu created by world-renowned chef Francesco Mazzei and inspired by Stanley Tucci – host of Tucci: The Heart of Italy.
Based on the principles of Slow Food, which promotes the right to good, clean and fair food for all, while preserving traditional and regional cuisine, the dishes are: