Catherine, Princess of Wales returning to overseas travel for first time since cancer diagnosis
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is to make her first overseas visit since undergoing cancer treatment with a trip to Italy next week.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is to make her first overseas visit since undergoing cancer treatment next week.
The 44-year-old royal stepped out of the public eye in 2024 after being diagnosed with the disease but by the end of that year, she had slowly resumed official duties, and it has now been confirmed she will travel to Italy for her first official trip outside of the UK.
Catherine will fly to Reggio Emilia on a research trip with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and is "very much looking forward" to her solo visit, which will see her join a "high-level fact-finding mission” to understand the Reggio Emilia approach, which places relationships and environment at the heart of bringing up a child.
The princess will spend time with teachers, parents, children and civic leaders on the visit, which she is said to have been keen to undertake for some time.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “The [rincess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development.
“As the Centre for Early Childhood continues to build its work internationally, this visit is an opportunity to connect the Shaping Us Framework with leading global approaches, and to highlight a shared understanding, that it is in these early years, through the natural world and the warmth of human connection, that we begin to lay the foundations for a resilient and healthy future.”
As part of her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, Catherine - who has children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, with husband Prince William - is currently helping launch a new resource for professionals and volunteers who work with babies and young children, as well as families.
A recent report for the foundation stressed the importance of building human skills in the modern world and stressed that children “do not need perfect parents but rather good enough ones”.
In her foreword to the report, entitled Foundations For Life, Catherine - who founded the organisation in 2021 - said: “In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented and digital, where life’s pace, noise and interruptions can be overwhelming, I believe it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection.”
Catherine's last solo visit was to Copenhagen in 2022 as part of her early years research, while her last major tour with William was in the Caribbean in March 2022 in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee. Later that year, they spent three days in Boston for the Prince's Earthshot Prize ceremony.
