REGGIO EMILIA, Italy (AP) 鈥� made her first overseas trip since , traveling to Italy on Wednesday for a two-day tour focused on an early childhood educational approach that was developed here and exported globally.
The princess, commonly known as , was received by huge cheering crowds as she arrived in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy to learn about its eponymous child-centered approach to . The trip is part of what her office called an international 鈥渇act-finding mission鈥� to explore different approaches to supporting young children and their carers.
The princess, who spent a gap year in Florence when she was younger, spoke a few words of Italian to a group of preschool children, introducing herself as Caterina.
鈥淧arlo un po鈥� d鈥檌taliano,鈥� she said, explaining that she spoke a little Italian. She then asked their names in Italian and added: 鈥淚o sono Catarina鈥� (I am Catherine.)
The Reggio Emilia approach is based on the idea that young children have many different ways of thinking, understanding and expressing themselves, and that teachers need to work with their students to help them learn.
鈥淚t is extraordinary and that is why I wanted to come and visit Reggio Emilia because your history is so rich and I have always been fascinated by the philosophy,鈥� the princess said as she began her program.
The choice of destination for Kate鈥檚 first trip abroad since her is no coincidence as early years development is the signature cause of the mother of three who will one day be queen.
鈥淪he wants to make a point that she is going to keep making this her cause,鈥� said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.
Her visit will highlight the idea that the environment and human relationships that surround children are crucial to laying the foundations for a resilient and healthy future, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
鈥淭he Reggio Emilia approach clearly suits the narrative at the start of international operations,鈥欌�� Little said.
The visit is part of her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021 to increase public understanding of the importance of supporting children in the first five years of life.
One of Britain鈥檚 most popular royals, the has proved to be adept at focusing attention on matters she cares about.
When announced that she had completed chemotherapy treatment in a , she ventured into realms not previously inhabited by the royal family, whose members traditionally shied away from talking about their health.
And she did it in a new way, using social media to share the fact that for all her wealth and privilege, her life had been upended by , like so many others.
Then, later, when she announced she was in remission, she spent the day supporting other cancer patients at the hospital where she received treatment.
In a statement on social media, she offered her thanks to everyone who helped her and her husband, , as they navigated the ups and downs of treatment and recovery. She hugged patients at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and described her own treatment as 鈥渆xceptional.鈥�
鈥淚t is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,鈥� the princess, now 44, wrote in a note signed with her initial, C. 鈥淎s anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.鈥�
Her new normal involves becoming the go-to advocate for early years education, which refers to the learning and development of children from birth to five years of age.
There鈥檚 lots to do in Britain, where advocates say there aren鈥檛 enough spaces to go around and many teachers don鈥檛 have the training they need.
Edoardo Masset, associate research director at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said Kate鈥檚 focus on early childhood development is important because it brings attention to an issue that really matters to children.
鈥淭his relationship between early years education and success later in life is supported not only by strong theoretical arguments, but also by a large body of evidence on the effectiveness of programs for preschool children,鈥欌�� Masset said in a blog post.
Residents of Reggio Emilia said Wednesday they were honored the princess had chosen their city and its public preschools for her first visit since her remission. Francesca Valli, a teacher of the Reggio Emilia approach, was waiting for her.
鈥淚 also feel very honored to be here, almost as a representative of my school,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or her first visit 鈥� and, among other things, her first solo visit after a long illness 鈥� the princess has made a very judicious, appropriate and well-considered choice, and this certainly does her honor.鈥�
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Kirka reported from London.
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