The Princess of Wales demonstrated a masterclass in diplomatic dressing on the second day of her overseas trip, rewearing a blazer from an Italian company and sporting locally designed jewellery.
Kate, 44, epitomised elegance in an all-beige ensemble, perfectly suited to the European spring weather, as she visited children engaged in outdoor learning this morning.
Her structured Blazé Milano pinstriped blazer, which she previously wore in a powerful portrait released shortly after announcing her cancer diagnosis in 2024, appears to be a favourite for poignant engagements and causes close to her heart.
Last year, the mother-of-three also chose this piece for a visit to RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital, celebrating nature's healing power—something she has described as key to coping with the 'roller coaster' of recovery.
Today, she accessorised the blazer with a flowing pleated skirt, a white top, and taupe Camilla Elphick 'Alicia' slingbacks. She also wore a belt from Blazé Milano and jewellery from Kiki McDonough, including the £3,200 'Candy Green Amethyst and Diamond' earrings and matching £2,500 pendant necklace.
Alongside her usual ring stack, featuring her stunning sapphire engagement ring, Kate sported a bracelet from Atelier Molayem, a small Milan-based brand. This sentimental piece, consisting of a fabric thread with charms, appeared to bear her children's initials: G, C, and L.
Catherine charmed Italians with her effortless style and ability to speak their language, honed during her gap year as a young woman. Today, she continued her visit to Reggio Emilia, a northern city renowned for its pioneering early years education approach.
She observed how children engage in nature-based learning at the Salvador Allende Scuola dell'infanzia, a school for under-sixes that emphasises outdoor learning and environmental education. Followers of the 'Reggio Emilia Approach' consider the natural environment as 'the third teacher'.
Later, Catherine was scheduled to visit a creative resource centre to learn how local businesses and the wider community support early childhood education through this approach. Supported by around 200 companies, the centre recovers materials destined for disposal and reimagines them as tools for investigation and learning for children.
For her final engagement in Italy, the Princess will visit a rural 'agriturismo'—a farm-stay—to reflect on her experiences during the trip and learn how to make pasta. She will join the team at Al Vigneto in preparing lunch, alongside many people she has met during her visit.
Yesterday, the princess greeted well-wishers with an 'I am Catarina', winning hearts in Italy and marking her royal comeback in style. Italians gave Catherine a rapturous welcome as she slipped back into royal duties on her first solo overseas trip in four years.
Putting her cancer treatment firmly behind her, she met children, including a very excited-looking baby, posed for selfies, and chatted with residents of Reggio Emilia. The city is famed for its pioneering approach to young children, a crusade close to the princess's heart.
Baby Elena, aged three months, was held over the barrier by her mother Marta and beamed as the future queen stopped to play with her. Looking relaxed and radiant in a blue Edeline Lee trouser suit, the princess—who honed basic Italian during her gap year in Florence—met schoolchildren and told them in their native language: 'I speak a bit of Italian. What is your name? I am Catarina.'
Alice, five, said afterwards: 'She asked my name in Italian. She spoke Italian very well.' Alice was among a crowd of about 3,000 people who welcomed Catherine at the start of her two-day trip to the city.
This is the first solo overseas official visit for the princess since she went to Denmark in 2022 before her cancer treatment, and palace aides describe it as a 'huge moment' for her to be back. Yesterday, she wowed her hosts on a royal 'walkabout' outside the town hall.
Maria Angelo Redaelli, a teacher who set her alarm for 3:15 am to make a 130-mile trip from her home, said: 'I just love the Royal Family and I just had to be here. The princess said my hat was very glamorous and I gave her a rose. She is so beautiful.'
Marilena Prediere, 43, of Reggio Emilia, said: 'I said give a big hug to your children. I said you are beautiful and it's a pleasure to meet you. This is a historic moment.' Royal fans whooped and bellowed 'Bellissima', 'Kate', and 'We love you'.
At a pre-school later, Catherine said 'ciao' as she joined a group of five youngsters writing animal names. Spotting one that said Lupo, which means wolf in Italian, she said: 'That was the name of our dog. Our dog was called Lupo.' A teacher said 'it must have been a big dog', but the princess replied: 'No, it wasn't actually. It had a big personality.'
Outside the Anne Frank infant school, excited youngsters swamped her with hugs and high-fives. After she left, many teachers started crying, showing just how much the royal visit means to the small Italian city.
Catherine also visited the world-renowned Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, where she met pioneers of the 'Reggio Emilia approach' of child-led learning for under-sixes, which is similar to the Montessori method and aligned with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The princess said it was important to encourage 'children these days to slow down' because 'their world is so fast-paced now'.
