Kate Middleton to make royal history with rare ‘prestigious’ honour during solo Italy trip
The Princess of Wales will soon make royal history as she is set to receive a rare 'prestigious' honour.
Kate Middleton will be visiting the city of Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy on Wednesday (13 May), with the trip finishing the following day on Thursday (14 May).
The upcoming Europe trip marks a significant next step in the work of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood as it expands internationally.
Spearheaded by the mum-of-three, the visit will focus on early childhood development and forms part of a high-level fact-finding mission to explore leading international approaches to supporting young children and those who care for them.
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HELLO! reports that during the trip, Kate will be presented with the 'Primo Tricolore', which is Reggio Emilia’s highest honour.
The 'Primo Tricolore' is a green, white and red flag that inspired modern-day Italy’s national symbol.
The flag was first created in Reggio Emilia back in 1797, before the unification of the nation in 1861.
Speaking of the honour, the city’s Mayor, Marco Massari, told a council session: "We consider this visit truly prestigious because it highlights one of the experiences that make our city a model known and appreciated worldwide.
"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."
Reggio Children explains that the 'Reggio Emilia Approach' is a student-centred, constructivist pedagogy originating in Italy post-WWII, viewing children as curious, capable individuals with strong potential and rights.
It emphasises self-directed, experiential learning, project-based work, and community collaboration, with the environment acting as a 'third teacher' to foster creativity and discovery.
"The long history of the Reggio Emilia Approach has its first traces in the mid- nineteenth century, and unfolds down the years in a series of significant moments," the website notes. "This long timeline, leading to the present day, has brought Reggio Emilia and the Reggio Emilia Approach into contact with more than 145 countries and territories around the world."
Kate's upcoming solo trip to Italy will be her first time travelling overseas since her cancer diagnosis.
She made her diagnosis public in March 2024, for which she underwent chemotherapy, before confirming she's in remission in January last year.
And this week's visit marks Kate's first extended official foreign trip in nearly three-and-a-half years.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development.
“As the Centre for Early Childhood continues to build its work internationally, this visit is an opportunity to connect the Shaping Us Framework with leading global approaches, and to highlight a shared understanding that it is in these early years, through the natural world and the warmth of human connection, that we begin to lay the foundations for a resilient and healthy future."
Topics: Kate Middleton, Royal Family, UK News, Europe
Rhiannon Ingle