Princess Kate visits Italy in first official overseas trip since cancer treatment

Reggio Emilia, Italy (CNN) — Catherine, Princess of Wales, has arrived in Italy on her first official overseas trip since being treated for cancer.

The British royal is on a two-day solo working trip with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she launched in 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood on later life outcomes.

In the small, northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia, there was a palpable sense of pride as crowds gathered to greet her, some waving flags and carrying bouquets of flowers.

That pride comes from Catherine’s decision to spotlight one of the city’s crown jewels – a revolutionary, and much-imitated approach to preschool education.

The Reggio Emilia Approach is more philosophy than method and prioritizes creativity, relationships, and hands-on discovery – all themes Catherine has spearheaded with her own work. First developed after World War II, it’s become nearly as defining for the city as the local cheese Parmigiano Reggiano.

Catherine, one of the most popular members of Britain’s royal family, revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing major abdominal surgery more than two years ago. In January 2025, she announced that she was in remission.

An aide to the Princess of Wales described the visit as “an important step in the Princess’ recovery journey,” adding “she takes great joy from this work.”

This is the royal’s first official visit to Italy, though she spent time in Florence after school and before she went to university and has been “remembering the happy memories,” said the aide.

“She’s had many conversations with her husband the Prince of Wales, and her children about this trip, and they’re looking forward to hearing about it on her return to the United Kingdom.”

The visit is “a significant honor,” Reggio Emilia mayor Marco Massari wrote on Instagram. “The Princess of Wales will learn about an approach to public early childhood education that we regard as a cornerstone of our community.”

“Today, even a princess has chosen to come and discover this approach, and that makes us proud and grateful to those who have built this legacy and to those who keep it alive and thriving today,” said Federico Ruozzi, president of the city’s preschool and infant-toddler center.

The British princess will be welcomed at the town hall by the mayor before greeting crowds in the medieval piazza. Expect two days of images of Catherine throwing herself into craft classes, outdoor learning and meeting members of the community.

“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… this is a really significant moment for her,” the aide added.

The Princess’s team at Kensington Palace remarked Catherine is taking different pace on early childhood issues compared to pre-2024. She’s taking it up a gear. On her recovery and return to public facing engagement, her team said they continue to find the right balance, and that this is expected to be the first of several trips.

A spokesperson added, “The Princess is keen to explore further how globally we can identify positive, hopeful solutions to address some of today’s toughest social challenges, by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and prioritising the early years with the same urgency as climate change.”

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.