Reggio Emilia, Italy —
Duchess Kate received an enthusiastic welcome in Italy on her first official overseas visit after undergoing cancer treatment.
The British Royal Family is on a two-day solo work trip with the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood Education, which she launched in 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of early years on later life outcomes.
In the small northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia, the princess looked beaming as she smiled and waved to celebrants gathered outside the town hall as she was awarded the city’s highest honor, the Primo Tricolore.
As he chatted with members of the public during a short walk, chants of “Kate, Kate” rang out, and he admitted, “I need to practice my Italian.” Some offered her flowers and gifts.
There was a palpable sense of pride in the city that Catherine chose to spotlight its pioneering approach to early childhood education. That approach has since been imitated in countries around the world.
The Reggio Emilia approach prioritizes creativity, relationships and practical discovery. All of these themes have been spearheaded by Catherine in her own work. First developed after World War II, this approach to early learning has come to define the city almost as much as its local cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano.
“It’s a huge honor and the way she has approached this city and this experience shows that she has a real interest in something incredibly deep, not just superficial,” one welcomer told CNN.
Duchess Kate, one of the most popular members of the British royal family, has revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing major abdominal surgery more than two years ago. In January 2025, she announced that she was in remission.
A close aide to the Princess of Wales described the visit as “an important step in the Princess’s recovery journey”, adding: “She takes great pleasure in this work.”
This is the royal family’s first official visit to Italy, but the royal family spent time in Florence after school and before attending university, and an aide said they were “reminiscing on fond memories”.
“She has talked about the trip a number of times with her husband, the Prince of Wales, and their children, and is looking forward to hearing about it when she returns to the UK.”
Reggio Emilia Mayor Marco Massari wrote on Instagram that the visit was “a great honor”. “The Princess of Wales will learn about the approach to public early childhood education that we see as the cornerstone of our community.”
“This is a big moment for the princess. There will be many highlights in 2026, but this will be her first overseas trip since her recovery… This is a really important moment for her,” the aide added.
The royal team at Kensington Palace noted that Kate is working on early childhood issues at a different pace than before 2024. She’s gearing up and this will be the first of several trips.
The spokesperson added: “The Princess is keen to further explore how, by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and prioritizing it with the same urgency as climate change, we can globally identify positive and hopeful solutions to address some of today’s most difficult societal challenges.”
