As the UK heralds in the new year with jubilant celebrations, King Charles is set to partake in a cherished Royal tradition. He and Queen Camilla will be hosting their annual New Year’s festivity at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

This year, however, there’s a sprinkle of Hollywood glamour as ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ star Stanley Tucci has been enlisted by none other than King Charles himself to devise an exquisite menu for a dinner honouring Anglo-Italian relations.

In a conversation with The Telegraph, Tucci expressed his excitement: “Now, OK, I won’t actually be in the kitchen, cooking for him, but the Italian ambassador came to me and said, ‘I want to do a meal, and Charles would like you to participate’, so I’ve been coming up with the menu.”

While details of the full menu remain under wraps, it’s reported that the theme will be “slow food and fashion” featuring hearty winter fare such as roast pork, kale, and squash.

Tucci elaborated on the culinary delights, saying: “”all of that nice, wintry, heavier stuff. “” He also mentioned that the dinner would “showcase all of this incredible British produce.”

Actor and renowned gourmand Stanley Tucci has spoken highly of the King’s long-standing commitment to seasonal eating, remarking, “[King] Charles was into that way before anyone else. He was way ahead of his time,” reports The Mirror.

An avid food lover, Tucci often expresses his culinary passion through social media, sharing recipes and celebrating his gastronomic achievements. He also gained recognition for his show ‘Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy’, a series tracing his journey from Milan to Venice in search of authentic local flavours.

Meanwhile, preparations for the kitchen are set to be helmed by acclaimed Calabrian chef Francesco Mazzei, a leading figure among Italian chefs in the UK, as the Royal couple anticipates a visit to Italy in 2025 following their successful tour of Australia at the close of 2024.