Kate Middleton taking 'important step' in cancer recovery with 'huge moment'

The Princess of Wales will kick off a two-day visit to Italy today, which is being described as an “important step” in her cancer recovery journey. Kate will arrive in Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, later today on a fact finding mission for her Centre for Early Childhood run by the Royal Foundation. On her two day trip, she will visit a range of educational institutions around the region, recognised as being a world leader in early years education. It is the first time she has embarked on an overseas working visit since her cancer diagnosis back in early 2024. The Princess underwent six months of preventative chemotherapy before announcing she was in remission in 2025, but has staggered her return to full time royal duties . She has not travelled abroad for a major visit since December 2022, when she went to Boston in the US with Prince William for his Earthshot Prize award ceremony. And a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: ““[This visit] is an important step in The Princess’ recovery journey. “She takes great joy from this work. I think it is only right that her first international trip since her illness is one that is focused on an issue that is committed to championing for decades to come, and is a real issue that she wants to shine a spotlight on.” Kate will be recognised for her efforts with the Primo Tricolore when she visits the city’s town hall at the start of the trip. During a reception at Reggio Emilia’s town hall Kate will meet civic leaders and will be joined by some of the key figures, now in their later years, who played a key role in shaping the Emilio Reggio education philosophy. Before leaving the princess will meet members of the public in the square outside the civic building. It comes as aides have also said Kate is set to embark on a global mission to transform the early years development of children around the world . The future Queen wants to “lead the global conversation” on the subject , and is aiming to bring together world leaders, educators and professionals. Ahead of the trip, aides said Kate - who spent part of her gap year before university studying in Florence - was keen to explore further how globally we can identify positive, hopeful solutions to address some of today’s toughest social challenges, by investing in the extraordinary impact of early childhood and prioritising the early years with the same urgency as climate change. Aides said her happy memories of her time in Italy spurred her decision to organise the visit. She is planning to do this by creating an international network of collaborators and partners, bringing together expertise, evidence and practice from across the world to better understand how these principles can be applied across different systems and cultures. The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Years Development, which the Princess set up in 2021, is now set to establish the first global alliance to develop a blueprint for the holistic development of ‘The Whole Child’. A palace spokesperson added: "She's looking forward to being here, she's energised, she's enthused, she's excited to see Reggio Emilia in action and meet the people here too. This is a global mission. She wants to look at other models around the world and really create a global conversation. "This is a huge moment for the princess. There will be many highlights of 2026 but this being her first international visit post her recovery. This is a really significant moment for her." Since launching the Centre in 2021, the princess has gone on to be considered a leader in the field of research and development in the subject. This week the princess will engage with one of the world’s leading approaches to early childhood and to explore how shared principles around relationships, creativity and environment are understood and applied in practice. Across the programme, Kate, 44, will see this from multiple perspectives, from the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, to local early years settings, and through to the role the wider community plays in supporting children and families. Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said the milestone visit was a vital step in Kate’s future work. He said: “We are now entering an important new phase of the Centre’s journey. “Building on her UK and international work in this area for many years, The Princess is here with her Centre for Early Childhood to lead a new global conversation about this, believing we now need to focus on early brain development and nurturing the whole child with the same urgency and sense of mission as other global challenges like climate change - if we truly want to get ahead of these challenges in the future. This is about genuine prevention. “We will aim to build a global alliance and shape a blueprint for lifelong human wellbeing and connection around the world, by uniting people around the golden opportunity of early childhood.” The princess last carried out an official overseas visit in December 2022 when she went to Boston, USA, with the Prince of Wales for his Earthshot Prize award ceremony. She also undertook two brief trips to Marseille, France, for the Rugby World Cup in the autumn of 2023, and went to the Crown Prince of Jordan’s wedding in Amman in June 2023 but these were not considered by her royal household to be official foreign tours. Rumours continue to swirl in royal circles that the Prince and Princess of Wales could be invited to the United States by President Donald Trump to celebrate the 250th Independence Day commemorations on July 4, following the success of the King and Queen’s State Visit to America last week. Sources suggest the Princess may also accompany her husband Prince William to Mumbai, India in November when he hosts the sixth instalment of his Earthshot Prize awards.