Kate Middleton returned to royal work abroad with a two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, from May 13 to May 14. It marked the Princess of Wales’ first overseas work trip since her 2024 cancer diagnosis and treatment. After spending much of last year away from public duties, she had gradually resumed a fuller schedule following news that she was in remission in early 2025. According to People Magazine, the visit was built around one of her longest-running priorities: early childhood development and the role relationships play in shaping healthy lives.
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Kate Middleton Put Early Childhood at the Center
The trip served as a fact-finding mission tied to the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which the princess launched in 2021. In Reggio Emilia, she met educators, parents, children, and local civic and business figures to study the city’s internationally respected approach to early education. Kensington Palace framed the visit as an important step in linking her Shaping Us work with global models. The occasion also echoed her 2022 visit to Denmark, where she explored outdoor learning and play-based education as part of a broader effort to examine practical ideas that support children from the start.
Kensington Palace Shared Her Aim for the Visit
“The Princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development," said her spokesperson according to People Magazine. Palace officials also said the visit would help connect the Shaping Us Framework with international thinking on child development. The message matched years of work by the princess, who had pushed for greater public attention on the first five years of life and the long-term effect of secure, responsive relationships.
Princess Kate Launched a New Early Years Guide
Just before the Italy trip, the princess visited the University of East London on May 6 to launch Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development. The publication was designed for professionals working with very young children and stressed the value of care, connection, and trusted support. In the guide, she wrote, “In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented and digital, where life’s pace, noise and interruptions can be overwhelming, I believe it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection.” The text reinforced the same themes that shaped the visit.
Reggio Emilia Visit Extended Her Long-Term Campaign
The Italy engagement fit into a wider campaign that had become central to her royal role. Through the Centre for Early Childhood and the Shaping Us initiative, she had argued that society often overlooks the earliest stage of development, even though it helps shape future health, resilience, and opportunity. Her work also expanded beyond schools and families to include employers and business leaders, reflecting her view that support for children depends on the systems around them. The visit showed how that agenda had moved onto an international stage while she continued rebuilding her public schedule after illness.
