State reception for the King and Queen
In the truest of royal style, King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend a formal dinner on Friday evening hosted by iconic actor Stanley Tucci. The royal family’s charm and grace are evident in the gala event, which will also mark the confirmation of a state visit to Italy later this year.
Royal visit and 20th anniversary
The royal couple will travel to Italy in April, with opportunities to meet Pope Francis and key Italian leaders. The visit will be made even more memorable by events in historic cities such as Rome and ancient Ravenna. Their 20th wedding anniversary, which will be celebrated on 9 April, makes the event even more special as it celebrates love and devotion.
Stanley Tucci’s role and health
Stanley Tucci, presenter of the popular BBC show ‘Searching for Italy’, will deliver an inspirational speech at the gala dinner held at the Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire. The state visit to Italy makes it clear that the King is well enough to travel abroad, even though he faces personal challenges as he continues his cancer treatment. Also, Tucci, who gave a stellar performance in the Oscar-nominated Vatican thriller Conclave, will be discussing his experience with throat cancer in depth, bringing a strong message to the royal event.
Italian evening at Highgrove
The Italian-inspired evening at Highgrove will feature the presence of Inigo Lambertini, the Italian ambassador to the UK. Chef Francesco Mazzi will prepare a traditional Italian menu with locally sourced ingredients that highlights the “slow food” approach, while mixologist Alessandro Palazzi will serve drinks infused with high-quality Italian flavors and herbs.
Royal visit and key meetings
The King is a regular visitor to Italy for his passion for arts, culture, and religion; this will be his 18th official visit. Organized by the Foreign Office, the state visit is also expected to include a number of key meetings with senior Italian officials to strengthen European partnerships. More details of the overall itinerary will be announced in due course.
Papal visit and 20th anniversary celebrations
The King and Queen are also expected to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their wedding in April 2005. The date was changed following the death of Pope John Paul II, after which the then Prince Charles attended his funeral in Rome. The visit to meet Pope Francis coincides with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of 2025. The King and Queen will attend to meet the Pope as “Pilgrims of Hope,” while the King also cherished the experience of meeting the Pope at the Vatican in 2019. This will be the first time Charles, the monarch and supreme governor of the Church of England, will have an official meeting with the Pope.