The Princess of Wales will travel to Italy for her first official foreign visit since 2022, marking a significant step in her return to full-time duties after health challenges. The trip focuses on her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, where she will explore the Reggio Emilia Approach to early education. Additionally, she will launch a new resource in East London aimed at strengthening social and emotional development in young children.
The Princess of Wales is set to embark on her first official foreign visit in over three and a half years, traveling to Italy next week as part of her ongoing work in early childhood development .
This trip marks a significant milestone in her return to full-time royal duties following a series of health challenges, including her cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment. Catherine, 44, has not undertaken an overseas official engagement since accompanying her husband, Prince William, to Boston for the Earthshot Prize Awards in December 2022. Her last solo international visit was to Denmark in February 2022.
In January 2024, she underwent major abdominal surgery, which led to her cancer diagnosis and a rigorous course of preventative chemotherapy. This necessitated a major reduction in her public appearances, though she gradually resumed her duties nine months later. In January 2025, she confirmed she was officially in remission, yet she had not traveled abroad for work until now.
Next Wednesday, the princess will fly to Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for a two-day working visit with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, an organization she founded in 2021 and describes as her 'life's work.
' A spokesperson from Kensington Palace expressed her enthusiasm for the trip, stating, 'The Princess is much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeking firsthand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children's development. ' The 'Reggio Emilia Approach' is a globally recognized early childhood education method developed shortly after World War II.
It focuses on child-led, experiential learning through relationships, collaboration, and creative expressions like art and drama, with nature playing a pivotal role as the 'third teacher.
' Catherine has long been interested in this approach, as it aligns with her passions for early childhood development and the natural world. This visit is seen as a pivotal moment for her work with the Centre, signaling new global ambitions for both her and her team. Today, she will launch a new resource in East London aimed at professionals working with babies, young children, and their families.
The resource, titled 'Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development,' is designed to deepen understanding of the importance of social and emotional development from the earliest months of life. To celebrate its launch, the princess will visit the University of East London, where she will meet families, researchers, students, and leaders in education who have committed to integrating the guide into their teaching and practice.
The guide, grounded in scientific research and practical insights, underscores the critical role of loving, responsive relationships in shaping children's lifelong health and well-being. It will be published on a new hub on the Centre's website, consolidating all its resources for professionals. In the foreword, the Princess writes, 'In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented, and digital… it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection.
' She highlights that by age five, a child's brain reaches 90 percent of its adult size, making early childhood a crucial period for developing social and emotional skills that form the foundation of adult life. She adds, 'While our society often focuses on academic or physical milestones, research consistently shows that it is our earliest relationships, experiences, and environments which lay the foundations for our future health and happiness.
The quality of our connections—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us—shapes how safe we feel, how we relate, and how we process experiences throughout our lives.
Princess Of Wales Royal Foundation Centre For Early Childhood Reggio Emilia Approach Early Childhood Development Social And Emotional Development
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