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Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrived in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on May 13 for a two-day visit focused on early childhood education, her first official overseas trip since her cancer diagnosis was made public in 2024.
Kensington Palace described the visit as a "high-level fact-finding mission" to explore international approaches to supporting young children and their caregivers.
It is also the princess's first international engagement since she traveled to Boston for the Earthshot Prize awards in December 2022.
Catherine, 44, announced in January 2025 that her cancer was in remission following a period of chemotherapy. She did not publicly disclose the type of cancer she faced.
The visit to Italy has been described by palace aides as a "significant moment" in her return to full-time duties.
The trip follows a state visit to the United States by King Charles III, who received his own cancer diagnosis weeks before Catherine announced hers.
The king recently announced that his doctors planned to begin scaling back his treatment.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the visit signals a clear return to form. "It's the first time she's out officially," he said. "And she's obviously grown in strength."
An aide to the princess described her as energized ahead of the engagements. Over the two days, Catherine met with educators, city administrators, parents, and children, and visited two pre-schools.
She also stopped at the Loris Malaguzzi International Center to learn about the educational philosophy underpinning Reggio Emilia's approach.
On her second day, Catherine visited the Salvador Allende pre-school, where nature is considered "the third teacher," before heading to a hillside community to learn traditional pasta-making with local families.
Catherine introduced herself to children as "Caterina" and conducted part of her interactions in Italian—a language she studied during a gap year in Florence in 2000. A local teacher noted that her Italian was clear and well-received by the children.
The Reggio Emilia visit aligns with Catherine's long-standing philanthropic focus on early childhood development. She founded the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in 2021.
On May 6, the same day the palace announced the Italy trip, the center released a guide focused on social and emotional development for those who work with young children and families.
"While our society often focuses on academic or physical milestones, research consistently shows that it is our earliest relationships, experiences, and environments that lay the foundations for our future health and happiness," Catherine wrote in the foreword to the guide.
Reggio Emilia's educational approach, developed in the aftermath of World War II, centers on the belief that children are active and curious learners from birth.
The city allocates 13% of its municipal budget to preschool services. The approach gained international recognition after Newsweek featured a Reggio Emilia school on its 1991 cover, listing the world's 10 best schools.
More than 3,000 people gathered to welcome the princess upon her arrival in the city on May 13.
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