Princess Kate’s subtle nod to her cancer journey during Italian trip | Royal | News

Princess Catherine stepped out in Reggio Emilia today to visit the Salvador Allende pre-school, where she spent time with young children learning outdoors. But it was Catherine’s carefully curated wardrobe choice that truly sparked a royal frenzy.

The Princess of Wales, 44, appeared to pay a subtle yet deeply personal nod to her cancer recovery journey by rewearing a sentimental blazer by Italian luxury label Blaze Milano – a piece that has quietly become associated with some of the most poignant moments of the past two years. Princess Catherine was first photographed wearing the piece in June 2024 when she shared an emotional health update amid her cancer treatment.

In the now-famous image released ahead of Trooping the Colour, Catherine paired the blazer casually with jeans while reflecting candidly on the challenges of chemotherapy.

At the time, the Princess wrote on Instagram: “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”

The blazer later reappeared in July 2025 during Catherine’s visit to the RHS Wellbeing Garden in Colchester, where she planted “Catherine’s Rose” in tribute to NHS staff and volunteers – a touching acknowledgment of the care she received throughout her recovery journey.

Now, almost two years after first debuting the jacket, Catherine appeared to bring the meaningful piece back into her wardrobe once again during a landmark moment in her royal return. This was her first solo overseas visit in more than four years and her first international engagement since her cancer diagnosis.

In keeping with her long-standing sustainable approach to fashion, the Princess has repeatedly championed rewearing key pieces from her wardrobe, particularly for emotionally significant engagements.

Choosing Italian label Blaze Milano for the Reggio Emilia visit also subtly embraced diplomatic dressing, with the brand widely regarded as one of Italy’s most celebrated luxury tailoring houses.

The Princess of Wales is spending a second day in Italy as part of her ongoing work highlighting the importance of children’s earliest years and emotional development.

The trip has already been viewed as a major milestone in Catherine’s gradual return to public duty, marking her first solo overseas engagement in more than four years and her first international visit since her cancer diagnosis.

During today’s engagement, Catherine was seen spending time observing outdoor learning activities at the Salvador Allende pre-school while speaking with teachers and educational leaders about the nursery’s child-focused philosophy. The school is internationally recognised for encouraging creativity, exploration and nature-based learning from an early age.

The engagement closely aligns with Catherine’s own long-running work through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which has become one of the defining pillars of her public role in recent years.

The Princess has repeatedly used her platform to raise awareness about the importance of a child’s first five years and the long-term impact early emotional development can have on adulthood.

Later in the day, Catherine is also expected to visit Remida, a creative recycling centre that supports local schools and nurseries by repurposing donated materials into educational resources for young children. During the engagement, the Princess will meet business leaders and educators involved in the initiative, which combines creativity, sustainability and early years learning.

The centre is designed to encourage imaginative play and creative thinking among children while promoting environmentally conscious practices within education. Catherine is also expected to undertake a further community engagement before concluding the second day of the visit.