Princess Kate's milestone during profound Italy visit

This significant journey marked her inaugural overseas work trip since her cancer diagnosis two years prior, and Kate seemed "enthused and energised" during her two-day stay in northern Italy. 

During this trip, her speech was more personal and emotional than ever before. A Kensington Palace spokesperson mentioned to HELLO! that she regarded the trip as "profoundly impactful on both a professional and personal level."

Kate was greeted like a superstar

The scenes were reminiscent of her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales, as the town was swept with Kate-mania, with enthusiastic crowds cheering her name and exclaiming "Bellissima!" – meaning very beautiful.

Reminiscences of Princess Diana

Stylishly dressed in a bright blue trouser suit by Edeline Lee, a Canadian British designer, the Princess displayed a commendable grasp of Italian as she conversed with locals and played with a baby.

"I believe Italian people see Kate as Diana's successor," Paolo Rosato, a senior journalist at Il Resto Del Carlino newspaper, tells HELLO! "For my generation, Diana was immensely significant. I'm 44, but my nine-year-old daughter knows and admires Kate a lot. I think Kate and Diana’s narratives are intertwined. She has taken Diana's place in the hearts of the people, so her visit announcement brought immense joy and excitement."

This marked the Princess's first official work trip since 2022, when she and the Prince attended the Earthshot Prize Ceremony in Boston. Now in Italy by herself, she aimed to advance her own passion project—her Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood—and learn about Reggio Emilia’s renowned child-rearing philosophy, which emphasises the impact of devoted caregivers, a nurturing environment, and nature as "the third teacher."

Kate's stopover at the Town Hall

The tour signified an important milestone in Kate’s return to royal responsibilities, as her team strives to balance her ongoing recovery with her role in public engagements. This visit also marked the start of a new phase in her advocacy for early childhood development, with more events planned on this subject.

The trip constitutes a crucial step in her recovery path. She derives immense satisfaction from this work. It’s fitting that her initial international visit post-illness focuses on a cause she’s passionately championed for many years and genuinely wants to spotlight.

Kate spent three months in Florence in 2000, prior to commencing her History of Art degree at St Andrews University, and she was delighted to revisit Italy and practise the language. Though her vocabulary was limited, her accent was refined, and she clearly grasped most interactions.

She said, "Parlo un po’ d’italiano," signalling that her Italian skills were basic, before inquiring about their names and sharing that her name is 'Caterina'. "Come ti chiami? Io sono Caterina.”

Communicating in Italian

Alice, a five-year-old, later said: "She asked my name in Italian. She was very good at speaking it." Antonello Guerrera, UK correspondent for Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper, told HELLO!, "In Italy, Kate is the most renowned British royal family member. The King is highly known too, but I believe she is favoured due to her non-royal origins.

In her visit, the Princess had interactions with young children, educators, and experts and watched the "Reggio Emilia approach" come to life at preschools, where learning revolves around creativity, nature, and relationships. Scientific findings highlight the significance of these elements in a child's development between zero and five years, influencing their future greatly—a focus central to the Centre for Early Childhood, initiated by Kate in 2021.

An aide stated prior to the trip, "This was a visit she was personally eager to embark on. She's full of energy and enthusiasm, eager to witness Reggio Emilia in practice and meet its community."

Upon arriving at the Town Hall, she was warmly welcomed by the mayor Marco Massari and received the Primo Tricolore, a prestigious city award, recognising her work in early childhood.

Subsequently, she visited the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, which annually attracts 130,000 visitors—researchers, educators, and families—keen on understanding the Reggio Emilia approach and its backing of social and emotional growth.

When faced with a table filled with colourful plastic items for children’s play, she remarked, "During lockdown, I did similar activities with my children, searching for as many colourful objects in the house as possible to form a rainbow."

That afternoon, she visited the Anna Frank nursery for ages three to six, where creativity and relationships hold key educational value, bringing tears to educators who felt acknowledged by her recognition.

Enjoying nature

The next morning, at the Salvador Allende nursery, Kate explored their outdoor, nature-oriented learning. 

Dressed in a blazer by Italian brand Blaize Milano and a fabric bracelet from Atelier Molayem, a Milan-based boutique, the Princess refined her Italian with three to six-year-olds, partaking in various activities like handling newts from the pond, crafting "tree roots" from clay, and appreciating the school’s serene natural setting.

Crafting pasta

The Princess concluded her tour by engaging in pasta-making at Agriturismo Al Vigneto, a farm-stay vineyard and farmhouse nestled in the hills.

As she blended flour, oil, salt, and water with her hands, she noted, "Back home, without a bowl, it tends to get quite messy. But it’s a great workout."

Christian Guy, Executive Director of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, highlighted how Kate’s strong belief in early childhood's importance propels the centre’s mission to establish a global alliance, forming a strategy to ensure every child receives the best start in life.