Princess Kate has opened up about a special memory with her three children during her visit to Italy.
The Princess of Wales is completing a two-day solo trip there from May 13 to 14. In Italy, she will visit Reggio Emilia to learn about their approach to early childhood education.
When she arrived, she was greeted by thousands of local families, including preschool children who were delighted to see her.
She was spotted embracing them and speaking with them in Italian.
On her first day, she visited the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, joined the children making clay models, and was then shown a table covered with colourful plastic objects.
“I did this in lockdown with the children,” she shared. “We tried to find as many objects in the house as we could with as many colours in the rainbow as possible.”
Even though her visit to Italy is short, it marks her first overseas trip since her cancer diagnosis.
Her visit is connected to her as a patron of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she launched in 2021.
After she arrived in Reggio Emilia, she was greeted by the Mayor, Marco Massari, who presented her with Primo Tricolore inside the town hall.
It is the city’s highest honour.
As part of the ceremony, she was given a green, white and red flag, as it was first created in Reggio Emilia in 1797. Before the nation adopted the flag we know today, the previous flag had the same colours, but had the coat of arms of the Cispadane Republic.
Before her visit, the Mayor explained why the Princess of Wales is receiving the “prestigious” honour.
“We consider this visit truly prestigious because it highlights one of the experiences that make our city a model known and appreciated worldwide,” he said.
“We are convinced that the visit of a woman who uses her popularity as a vehicle for spreading educational approaches in harmony with the Reggio Approach is of great importance.”
Even though she has not been there for long, Kate has been warmly welcomed by locals.
“I shook her hand and thanked her for coming here and said it was a huge honor for us. She said it was a huge honor for her to see the city,” one school teacher told People after meeting the Princess of Wales.
She said she could not believe that she was visiting her town, and that she was “down to earth”.
“When she started her early childhood project, I always thought that sooner or later she would come here because it’s been a staple in our community since the Second World War. I can see why she came to Reggio Emilia because her vision is so similar to ours.
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