Princess of Wales Visits Italy on First Overseas Trip Since Cancer Treatment

Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrived in northern Italy on Wednesday for her first foreign trip since undergoing cancer treatment. She was greeted by cheering crowds in Reggio Emilia as she began a two-day visit centered on early childhood development.

The princess shook hands, posed for selfies and hugged a well-wisher during a walkabout in the sunny town square lined with medieval and renaissance buildings. Shouts of "Ciao Kate" rang out and a homemade poster with the same message was held aloft.

The visit is the first time she has faced overseas crowds since traveling to Boston with her husband in December 2022.

The trip aligns with the expansion of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which the princess launched in 2021. She explored local approaches that emphasize creativity, building relationships and the importance of investing in children's earliest years.

Catherine spoke with children and met families, educators and community leaders working on early childhood issues in the city. She described the visit as a "special trip" in an Instagram post and praised what she called a world-leading approach to learning that encourages children to "live" connection.

The princess has campaigned for greater awareness of how difficulties in early childhood can contribute to later problems including addiction and mental health issues. This visit could be the first in a series of international trips to examine different models and foster a global conversation on the topic, according to an aide.

She revealed in January 2025 that she was in remission and has since made a gradual return to public life through selected appearances. An aide told reporters it represents a significant moment as the first official international engagement after her treatment.

“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.”

During the visit she was also shown the Sala del Tricolore in the town hall, the room where Italy's red, white and green flag was born.

The princess's arrival in Italy coincided with a major ceremonial duty being performed back in London by King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment. He delivered a landmark speech for the formal opening of a new session of the British Parliament on the same day.

Her last official foreign tour before this trip was in 2022 to Boston for the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The princess has kept a lower profile in recent years while focusing on her health and family. Local residents and visitors turned out in large numbers despite the presence of heavy police security and large groups of journalists.

People waved from windows and held up babies and flowers alongside their phones to capture the moment.