The Princess of Wales will travel to northern Italy next week for her first official overseas engagement since completing cancer treatment. Kate is scheduled to visit Reggio Emilia on 13–14 May to learn about the origins of the renowned Reggio Emilia approach to early-years education.
After the Second World War, local residents—many of them women—financed some of Italy's first nursery schools by selling scrap metal salvaged from abandoned military equipment, including a tank left by retreating German forces. These efforts laid the foundation for an educational philosophy now influential worldwide.
The Reggio Emilia approach views the child as an active learner capable of exploring the world through many forms of expression, often described as the “hundred languages” of children. Classes are organised around communal piazzas, with in-house kitchens and ateliers for experimenting with materials, colours, and sounds.
Kate launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, focusing on children's social and emotional wellbeing. Her interest in Reggio Emilia centres on the historical roots of its schools, the role of women, the link between nature and education, and strong community involvement.
Reggio Emilia has one of the highest preschool participation rates in Italy, with near-universal enrolment for children aged three to six. The city now operates 89 infant-toddler centres and preschools, most run by the municipality or state, with fees based on family income.
