The Princess of Wales will visit Italy for two days (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Princess of Wales is set to begin a two-day journey to Italy, marking what has been characterized as an “important step” in her recovery from cancer.
Kate, 44, is scheduled to land in Reggio Emilia, located in northern Italy, on Wednesday, May 13, for a fact-finding expedition related to her Centre for Early Childhood, operated through the Royal Foundation. During her two-day stay, she will tour various educational facilities throughout the area, which is internationally recognized for excellence in early childhood education.
This marks her first overseas working engagement since receiving her cancer diagnosis in early 2024. Following six months of preventative chemotherapy, the Princess revealed she was in remission in 2025, though she has gradually eased back into full-time royal responsibilities.
Her last major international engagement was in December 2022, when she accompanied Prince William to Boston for his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson commented, “[This visit] is an important step in The Princess’ recovery journey. She takes great joy from this work. I think it is only right that her first international trip since her illness is one that is focused on an issue that is committed to championing for decades to come, and is a real issue that she wants to shine a spotlight on.”
Kate revealed she was in remission in 2025 (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Kate will receive the Primo Tricolore in recognition of her work during her visit to the city’s town hall at the beginning of the trip.
At a reception held at Reggio Emilia’s town hall, Kate will meet with civic leaders and connect with some of the influential figures, now elderly, who were instrumental in developing the Emilio Reggio education philosophy. Before departing, the princess will greet members of the public gathered in the square outside the civic building.
Aides have also revealed that Kate is preparing to launch a global initiative focused on transforming early childhood development worldwide. The future Queen aims to “lead the global conversation” on this issue and plans to unite world leaders, educators and professionals around the cause.
Kate’s fond memories of her time studying in Italy inspired the trip (Image: AP)
Aides indicated that her fond memories of her time in Italy inspired her decision to arrange the visit.
Prior to the trip, aides also noted that Kate, who spent part of her gap year before university studying in Florence, is eager to explore how we can identify positive, hopeful solutions globally to tackle some of today’s most challenging social issues. She is interested in pursuing this goal by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and treating the early years with the same urgency as climate change.
She intends to achieve this by establishing an international network of collaborators and partners, drawing together expertise, evidence and practice from around the world to better understand how these principles can be implemented across different systems and cultures.
The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Years Development, established by the Princess in 2021, is preparing to launch the first global alliance aimed at creating a comprehensive framework for “The Whole Child” development.
Princess Kate’s trip is a “huge moment” in her recovery (Image: Getty)
A palace spokesperson said, “She’s looking forward to being here, she’s energised, she’s enthused, she’s excited to see Reggio Emilia in action and meet the people here too. This is a global mission. She wants to look at other models around the world and really create a global conversation.”
“This is a huge moment for the princess. There will be many highlights of 2026 but this being her first international visit post her recovery,” they added, “This is a really significant moment for her.”
Since founding the Centre in 2021, the princess has established herself as a prominent figure in early childhood research and development.
During her visit, the princess will explore one of the world’s most renowned approaches to early childhood education and examine how core principles centered on relationships, creativity and environment are implemented in real-world settings.
“This is a really significant moment for her,” said a palace spokesperson (Image: Getty Images)
Throughout the program, Kate will observe these practices from various angles, including the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, neighborhood early years facilities and the broader community’s involvement in supporting children and families.
Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, described the landmark visit as a crucial step in Kate’s ongoing work. He stated, “We are now entering an important new phase of the Centre’s journey.”
“Building on her UK and international work in this area for many years, The Princess is here with her Centre for Early Childhood to lead a new global conversation about this, believing we now need to focus on early brain development and nurturing the whole child with the same urgency and sense of mission as other global challenges like climate change – if we truly want to get ahead of these challenges in the future. This is about genuine prevention,” he continued.
“We will aim to build a global alliance and shape a blueprint for lifelong human wellbeing and connection around the world, by uniting people around the golden opportunity of early childhood,” Guy added.
Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
The princess’s most recent official international visit took place in December 2022, when she traveled to Boston with the Prince of Wales for his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. She also made two short trips to Marseille, France, for the Rugby World Cup in fall 2023, and attended the Crown Prince of Jordan’s wedding in Amman in June 2023, though her royal household did not classify these as official foreign tours.
Speculation is mounting within royal circles that President Donald Trump may extend an invitation to the Prince and Princess of Wales to attend the 250th Independence Day celebrations on July 4, buoyed by the triumph of the King and Queen’s State Visit to America last week.
Additionally, sources indicate that the Princess may join Prince William on his trip to Mumbai, India in November, where he is set to host the sixth edition of his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
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