They were joined by a host of celebrities at their Tetbury home, including actress Dame Helen Mirren, fashion designer Donatella Versace, and actor Stanley Tucci.

The dinner on last night, Friday was held in honour of sustainable “slow food” and was also attended by the Italian ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini.

Italian chef Francesco Mazzei created the menu, which featured British produce.

Dishes included Scottish crab panzanella, Highgrove fine herbs ravioli, and Suffolk red porchetta.

Other guests included fashion designer Donatella Versace, former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, TV personality Patrick Grant and chefs Raymond Blanc and Angela Hartnett.

The King and Queen were seen chatting with a number of the guests, including the Beckhams.

David Beckham told the Queen how much he loved their Cotswolds estate, adding: “It’s beautiful there, so beautiful.

“We love it.

Queen Camilla (right) greets Dame Helen Mirren (left) and David and Victoria BeckhamKing Charles speaks to David Beckham and Victoria BeckhamFor more pictures from the night – see our photo gallery.

“We are very happy there,” David said. 

“We’ve got chickens.”

Camilla interjected: “I’ve got chickens too.”

He suggested that his wife was not so keen on gardening but added: “I love it.”

The event also promoted “slow fashion”, with the King and Queen meeting King’s Foundation’s students and being shown garments demonstrating their sustainable fashion and heritage skills.

David told the King how proud he was of his role as a King’s Foundation ambassador and thanked him for the opportunity to get involved.

Meanwhile, Victoria admired the work of his students, telling the King: “The workmanship and the craftsmanship is phenomenal.”

Queen Camilla speaks to King’s Foundation students during the dinner 

King makes a ‘good’ martini

James Bond-inspired martinis were prepared by mixologist Alessandro Palazzi using flavours of Italy and herbs from Highgrove Gardens.

The King made a drink under the guidance of Palazzi and laughed when the lemon almost went up his nose as he tried to take a sip, then declared it “great”.

Mr Palazzi, when asked about the King’s martini-making technique, replied: “He was good.”

Stanley Tucci (left) watches as King Charles III and Italian mixologist, Alessandro Palazzi, mix a drink 

At the end of the night, the King started and ended his speech speaking Italian, to which the room cheered and clapped.

He said: “Buonasera e un caloroso benvenuto a Highgrove.

“Eccellenze, signore e signori, it is a great joy for my wife and I to welcome you all to Highgrove and, above all, to be able to offer our warmest gratitude to Ambassador Lambertini, to Stanley Tucci, and to chef Francesco Mazzei for their combined efforts to arrange such a special Italian occasion – I can only hope they are still talking to each other at the end of it all!”

He said he was “especially pleased” the dinner comes just a few weeks before the state visit to Italy, adding: “To say that we are looking forward to it would be to engage in a little British understatement.”King Charles raises a toast during the dinner

Created using British ingredients blended with Italian culinary traditions and local flavours, the dishes aimed to embody the principles of slow food.

The slow food initiative was launched in 1986 in the small Italian town of Bra when food writer Carlo Petrini took exception to the opening of a McDonald’s in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, leading to widespread national protests.

It promotes the right to good, clean and fair food for all, and strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine.

Charles has long been a champion of the philosophy.

King Charles greets Inigo Lambertini, Italian Ambassador to the UK and Maria Grazia Lambertini Hollywood star Stanley Tucci gives a speech 

A general view of the dinning places at the dinner