In an exclusive analysis, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has described the hysteria surrounding the Princess of Wales's visit to Italy as 'extraordinary', predicting that the Palace will be eager to build on this success. The Princess of Wales was treated to a noisy rockstar welcome on her visit to Reggio Emilia, her first overseas working trip in nearly four years.
Kate Conquers Hearts on Royal Tour in Italy
The Princess of Wales certainly charmed Italy on her first official overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis, drawing crowds wherever she went. Thousands packed into the main square of Reggio Emilia to catch a glimpse of Kate as she launched her two-day working visit, a fact-finding mission for her early years project. Fans handed over flowers, snapped selfies, and even cooed over a little baby held over crowd control barriers. At a school in the northern Italian city, children clamoured for hugs, while teachers became emotional and shed tears as she departed.
A Milestone Visit
The visit marked a milestone for Kate, being her first official foreign tour since she was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and underwent chemotherapy. Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that the visit highlighted what the Royal Family had been missing. 'The extraordinary glamour and youthful star quality that the Princess brings to any event has been somewhat missing during her absence,' she said. 'The PR team will not be putting any pressure on Catherine, but they must be hoping that the success of this trip to Italy is a precursor to more overseas tours, flying the flag for Britain and the British monarchy.'
'I think it’s only when you see the stars of our royal family on tour that you realise the extraordinary pulling power of the British monarchy. There are 10 European monarchies in all, and yet it’s our Monarch and our heirs to the throne who consistently draw the biggest crowds wherever they go.'
Comparisons to Princess Diana
The huge crowds that turned out for Kate drew comparisons to the scenes when her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, made overseas trips. Jennie, who accompanied Diana on many trips, noted the similarities. 'Seeing the throngs who turned out to cheer Catherine in Italy gave me a sense of déjà vu from all the years I spent travelling with her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales. Some had queued for hours just to get a glimpse of Catherine; they screamed in excitement when they saw her, and teachers at a school she visited cried when she left. It was the sort of near mass hysteria I witnessed pretty much wherever Diana went.'
'I saw it in the States, in France, Japan, India, Nepal, and Australia. Back then they called it Di-mania. This has already been dubbed Kate fever. It’s hard to imagine other European royals such as Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden being given the rockstar treatment on a visit to the UK. But everyone, it seems, wants to meet our Catherine, and indeed, William, Charles, and Camilla.'
Kate's Own Path
Kate now holds the same title as Diana, Princess of Wales, inheriting it when Prince William became Prince of Wales after the death of the late Queen in 2022. Before Elizabeth II’s death, it is said Kate wanted to forge her own path in the Royal Family outside of Diana's legacy. In his book 'William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story', the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers revealed that Kate 'privately' expressed reservations about taking the title, given its association with her late mother-in-law. But addressing the comparisons, Jennie added: 'I think it’s something Kate should find flattering. Diana’s popularity was global and astonishing, and it enabled her to have a highly influential voice on issues she cared about – such as AIDS, leprosy and landmines. Catherine is developing the same clout with her campaign about early years education. She should be proud.'
