Britain's Princess of Wales has been warmly welcomed by Italians on her first official overseas trip since undergoing cancer treatment.
Catherine, the wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, is visiting Italy as part of her work on childhood development, a central theme of her public work.
Her two-day trip began on Wednesday when she visited the city of Reggio Emilia, renowned for its approach to early childhood education.
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered in the city’s main square, framed by medieval and Renaissance buildings, and in nearby streets to greet her. Some waved Union Jacks while others held a banner reading “Ciao Kate”.
"Undoubtedly this is a huge moment for the princess. There will be many highlights of 2026, but this being her first official international visit post her recovery, this is a really significant moment for her," said an aide to the princess.
Catherine greeted children waiting for her outside the Town Hall.
“Buongiorno, what’s your name?” she asked a preschool girl in Italian, a city official said, recounting the exchange.
“My name is Camilla, and yours?” the child replied.
“I’m Catherine,” the princess said - prompting a brief look of surprise before Camilla, who expected to hear the name Kate, exclaimed: “But she’s called Catherine."
The visit centred on the "Reggio Emilia approach", which places relationships, the environment and community at the heart of a child’s development.
The Princess was awarded the Primo Tricolore, Reggio Emilia’s highest civic prize. It consists of a replica of Italy’s green, white and red national flag, first adopted in the city in 1797.
"It is only right that her first international trip since her illness is one that is focused on an issue that she is committed to championing for decades to come," her aide said.
Pasta lesson
On Thursday, the Catherine was at a hillside community in northern Italy's so-called food valley, an area globally known for products such as the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
She visited a local pre-school and the Remida centre where materials destined for disposal are reused as tools for children's learning.
At lunchtime, she tried her hand at rolling fresh pasta at Al Vigneto farmhouse, located between Reggio Emilia and Parma.
Under the guidance of chef Ivan Lampredi, she was shown how to prepare tortelli, a type of stuffed pasta typical of the region, usually filled with ricotta and herbs, though other varieties include spinach, pumpkin and artichokes.
Before flying back to the United Kingdom, Catherine met with families from several generations, learning how care, creativity and connections are passed down through everyday traditions, such as cooking, officials said.
Last year, the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO recognised Italy's national cuisine as an "intangible cultural heritage", acknowledging culinary practices handed down across generations.
