The Princess of Wales has been greeted by thousands of enthusiastic well-wishers as she arrived in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, for her first overseas working visit in three and a half years. The milestone trip marks a significant step in her recovery after undergoing treatment for cancer.
Warm Welcome in Reggio Emilia
Kate was met by huge crowds as she travelled to the town, where she is undertaking a fact-finding mission focused on early years development. She will meet educators across the region, which is recognised as a world leader in the development of children up to the age of five. The Princess will also receive the Primo Tricolore, Reggio Emilia's highest honour, during a visit to the city's town hall.
A New Chapter for Kate's Work
Ahead of the two-day visit, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess is feeling "well and energised" about the trip. Royal aides described the visit as heralding a new beginning for Kate's work in early childhood development. The future Queen aims to "lead the global conversation" on the subject, bringing together world leaders, educators, and professionals. She has also set her sights on further international travel in the future.
During her stay, Kate will visit a range of educational institutions to learn about the Reggio Emilia Approach, an educational philosophy named after the city that pioneered the method. This approach emphasises the importance of parents, educators, and the environment—referred to as "the third teacher"—in a child's development.
Recovery and Commitment
Aides described the Princess as "energised and enthused" and looking forward to this "milestone" trip, her first since being diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. She underwent six months of preventative chemotherapy before announcing she was in remission in 2025, and has gradually returned to full-time royal duties. A Kensington Palace spokesperson stated: "This visit is an important step in The Princess’ recovery journey. She takes great joy from this work. It is only right that her first international trip since her illness is focused on an issue she is committed to championing for decades to come."
Global Ambitions for Early Childhood
Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, highlighted the significance of the visit. He said: "We are now entering an important new phase of the Centre’s journey. Building on her UK and international work, The Princess is here to lead a new global conversation about early childhood. We need to focus on early brain development and nurturing the whole child with the same urgency as other global challenges like climate change. This is about genuine prevention. We will aim to build a global alliance and shape a blueprint for lifelong human wellbeing by uniting people around the golden opportunity of early childhood."
