Princess Kate will be awarded a major honour during her upcoming trip to Italy in recognition of her dedication to children's welfare and learning. On Wednesday, the Princess of Wales will travel to the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia for a two-day visit to promote her early years work. The region is renowned for its pioneering approach to early childhood development, and Kate will engage with leading experts to learn about their world-famous methods.
First Tricolore Award
Mayor Marco Massari confirmed that Kate will receive the First Tricolore, the municipality's highest distinction. In a statement, Massari said: "I feel compelled to inform you that we have agreed with the aforementioned British representatives to present the First Tricolore to Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton. Since this is a private visit, the award will not take place during a public ceremony, but we still wanted to recognise our city's highest honour to a figure who, through the establishment of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, has placed children's rights at the centre of her public commitment."
Visit Itinerary
Kate will arrive on Wednesday and be formally welcomed by the mayor at the Town Hall. An official meeting with civic leaders will follow, discussing the city's history and the cultural context that gave rise to its celebrated educational model. Over two days, she will attend three engagements at various schools and speak with childhood development professionals.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children's development. As the Centre for Early Childhood continues to build its work internationally, this visit is an opportunity to connect the Shaping Us Framework with leading global approaches."
Return to Overseas Travel
The visit, in partnership with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood founded by Kate in 2021, marks her return to foreign travel after an extended break due to her cancer diagnosis. A royal aide told The Mirror: "The Princess is feeling well and energised about making the trip to Italy. The visit reflects that she is able to begin undertaking international trips like this again, while still taking a balanced approach. It represents a significant milestone and an important step in taking her early childhood work onto the global stage."
