The Princess of Wales will begin her first overseas trip since her cancer treatment today.
An aide to Kate described the two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, as a "really significant moment", having not undertaken an official foreign tour since 2022, when she went to Boston in the US for her husband's Earthshot Prize award ceremony.
The future queen will be in the northern Italian city to promote her work with The Centre for Early Childhood and learn about the "Reggio Emilia approach" to early years development.
The city pioneered the teaching method that has become recognised across the globe, stressing the importance of parents, educators and the environment in helping children grow.
Early years support has been central to Kate's public work for more than a decade. She founded the Centre for Early Childhood in 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of early years' experiences and to commission research.
She will be recognised for her efforts in Reggio Emilia with the Primo Tricolore, the city's highest honour.
During a reception at its town hall, Kate will meet civic leaders and key figures behind the city's education philosophy and will later meet members of the public in the square outside.
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The visit comes two years after she went public with her diagnosis of an unspecified cancer in March 2024. She underwent chemotherapy and announced she was in remission in January 2025.
Her aide said: "Undoubtedly, this is a huge moment for the princess. Although there will be many highlights of 2026, I think being her first official international visit post her recovery [...] is a really significant moment for her."
(c) Sky News 2026: Princess of Wales: 'Really significant moment' as royal makes first official foreign trip si
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