Kensington Palace announces Catherine's first overseas royal visit post-cancer diagnosis

The Princess of Wales is set to embark on her first official royal engagement abroad since being diagnosed with cancer, as she heads to Italy next week.

Catherine, who shared her remission news early last year, is preparing for a solo working visit centered on early childhood development.

This trip holds major significance for the future queen, as it marks her first extended international tour in around three-and-a-half years.

Her most recent official trip overseas occurred in December 2022, when she joined the Prince of Wales in Boston for the Earthshot Prize presentation.

While Catherine had short visits to Marseille for the Rugby World Cup in fall 2023 and attended the Crown Prince of Jordan's wedding in Amman in June 2023, these were not considered official foreign tours by her royal household.

Advisors mentioned that the Princess of Wales is "eagerly anticipating" the opportunity to travel internationally again.

Catherine will visit the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia for two days, specifically from Wednesday (May 13), to Thursday (May 14).

The visit is part of a comprehensive fact-finding mission exploring top international strategies for supporting young children and their caregivers.

Reggio Emilia is famous globally for its unique approach to early childhood education, which emphasizes the significance of relationships, environment, and community in child development.

This method has gained worldwide acclaim for fostering enriching, creative, and empathetic learning settings.

During her stay, Catherine will engage with educators, parents, children, local officials, and business leaders to experience the Reggio Emilia Method personally.

This visit intends to highlight the critical role that nurturing settings and loving relationships play in shaping healthy development from the youngest ages.

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, launched in 2021 under the Princess's guidance, has aimed to integrate research, collaboration, and practical action to transform societal views and priorities on early childhood.

The center introduced its Shaping Us Framework in February 2025, offering a unified perspective on social and emotional development in young children.

During Catherine's visit to Italy, she will explore how this framework can align with strategies in other countries prioritizing early childhood.

According to palace representatives, the visit to Reggio Emilia serves as a strong starting point for the center's international outreach.

This engagement marks the next chapter for the organization, combining global perspectives on early childhood and boosting its global visibility.

A spokesperson from Kensington Palace expressed: "The Princess is truly excited about visiting Italy next week, eager to observe how the Reggio Emilia approach naturally combines with the love of human connections to nurture child development."