The Princess of Wales is set to travel to Italy next week for her first official overseas engagement in more than three years, marking a significant step in her gradual return to full royal duties.
She will visit the historic northern city of Reggio Emilia on 13 and 14 May, her first official trip abroad since undergoing cancer treatment.
Her last overseas engagement was in Boston, United States, in December 2022, when she accompanied Prince William.
The solo visit will focus on her longstanding early childhood education campaign, with Catherine undertaking what Kensington Palace described as “fact finding” into the city’s distinctive approach to early years learning.
“The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week,” said a spokesman for Kensington Palace, highlighting the importance of the trip as a milestone in her return to international engagements.
During the visit, she will observe “first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development”, according to the same spokesman.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy places strong emphasis on play-based learning, personal relationships, and following children’s natural interests.
While in the city, the Princess of Wales will meet educators, parents, children, local officials, and business leaders.
The two-day engagement is expected to further signal her full return to royal duties following a period of recovery. After treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, she confirmed in January 2025 that she was in remission.
She has since spoken openly about experiencing both “good days and bad days” during recovery, describing it as a “life-changing experience”.
Public opinion surveys continue to rank her among the most popular members of the royal family, and her return to international travel is likely to attract significant attention.
Although she has made brief private trips to France and Jordan, this will be her first official overseas visit in nearly three and a half years.
The visit will also extend the international reach of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, established in 2021 to explore how early life experiences shape long-term outcomes, including mental health and addiction.
On Wednesday, the centre will release a new guide, Foundations for Life, aimed at professionals working with young children and families, highlighting the importance of emotional and social development.
“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,” writes Catherine in the foreword of the guide, which will be launched at the University of East London.
