When Kate Middleton arrives in Italy on Wednesday, it will mark the first time in four years that the Princess of Wales has carried out a solo trip.
Sources close to Princess Kate tell Vanity Fair that she feels “energized and excited” about going overseas to a country she has always loved. While on her gap year, before going to the University of St Andrews, she spent time in Italy learning to speak Italian.
Kensington Palace has said the two-day trip will “focus on early child childhood development and forms part of a high-level fact-finding mission to explore leading international approaches to supporting young children and those who care for them.”
It will also, sources say, be used as a “road test”’ for a possible second tour later with Prince William later this year. “Catherine is feeling better than she has in two years. She is super excited to not only go on this visit, but to test herself back in the arena of full-time royal duties,” Russell Myers, the author of William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, says.
Two possibilities for future tours are a trip to the US in July for the World Cup and the official commemorations for the 250th anniversary or possibly joining Prince William in India for his Earthshot awards in November.
This week’s two-day visit will be brief and closer to home. According to a source close to the Princess of Wales, “The trip to Italy is something Catherine really wanted to do. It’s a short trip to a place she loves, and she has always been fascinated by Reggio Emilia because of its groundbreaking approach to raising children.”
The city is known around the world for its unique philosophy of early learning centered on creativity, relationships, and hands-on discovery and the Princess is said to be looking forward to learning more about the systems and techniques used such as learning in nature and intergenerational learning and connections.
The Princess has made a slow and steady return to royal duties after finishing a course of preventative chemotherapy in September 2024.
“This trip is an important moment personally and professionally for Catherine and cements two causes she cares deeply about, the Early Years and inspiring and helping others going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Her message has been positive from the outset – there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The last time Princess Kate traveled solo was to Denmark in 2022 when she visited the country to learn more about its early childhood development policies and programs.
While the Palace has yet to announce details of a second tour, William told reporters while he was on a visit to South Africa last year that he expects Kate to pick up on royal trips now that she is in remission. The Princess has increased her royal engagements as she continues to juggle her work with her young family while recovering from a serious illness.
Kensington Palace says that Princess Kate remains focused on staying well and looking after the couple’s young children with a gradual return to full time royal duties.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.vanityfair.com ’
