The visit marks a significant step forward in Catherine's return to full-time duties after a period of health challenges, according to a Kensington Palace spokesman. She has not been abroad on official duties since joining Prince William in Boston for the Earthshot Prize Awards in December 2022, and her last solo visit was to Denmark in February 2022. In January 2024, she was admitted to hospital for major abdominal surgery and later diagnosed with cancer, requiring preventative chemotherapy, sources say.
She began a slow return to public life nine months later and confirmed she was in remission in January 2025, according to sources. On Wednesday next week, the princess will fly to Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for a two-day working visit with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021 and has described as her 'life's work'. The trip is said to mark a pivotal 'new milestone' for the princess's work with the Centre and signals new global ambitions.
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' to early childhood education is a world-renowned initiative introduced shortly after the Second World War. Today, Catherine launched a new resource called 'Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development' for those working with babies and young children in East London. To mark the launch, the princess visited the University of East London to meet families, researchers, and students.
She was dressed in a camel-coloured wide-leg trouser-suit with her hair worn down, and spent time with families who have babies and young children during the visit.