Kensington Palace announces Kate Middleton's first major overseas trip to Italy since cancer ordeal
The Princess of Wales is making the trip for a special reasonKate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is set to return to official international travel next week, marking her first foreign visit in more than three years with a trip to Italy centred on early childhood development.
The solo engagement is being presented as a significant step in both her personal recovery and the growing international reach of her work.
Catherine has not undertaken a formal overseas tour since December 2022, when she joined the Prince of Wales at the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
Princess Kate Middleton set to visit Italy
Her schedule was subsequently disrupted by serious health challenges. In early 2024, she underwent abdominal surgery followed by a cancer diagnosis, leading to six months of preventative chemotherapy.
She confirmed in January 2025 that she was in remission. She has since resumed duties gradually.
The upcoming visit will see the princess travel alone in her role with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, an initiative she established to advance understanding of the importance of early development.
Palace aides have described the trip as an important milestone, noting she is “very much looking forward” to resuming international engagements.
Although she has made limited appearances abroad during her recovery, including visits to France for the Rugby World Cup and to Jordan for a royal wedding, these were not classified as official tours.
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The Waleses’ last extended overseas visit together was their Caribbean tour in March 2022. This was followed later that year by a shorter trip to Boston.
The Prince of Wales indicated in late 2024 that he hoped his wife would soon be able to join him again on foreign visits, suggesting further travel could be planned.
The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week.
He is expected to visit the United States in July for the Fifa World Cup and events linked to the 250th anniversary of American independence. However, it remains unclear whether the princess will accompany him.
What will Princess Kate do in Italy?
Her Italy visit will take place in Reggio Emilia from May 13 to 14, where she will examine approaches to early childhood education. The city is internationally recognised for the Reggio Emilia Approach, which emphasises children’s capacity for self-directed learning within supportive environments
During the visit, the princess is expected to explore how nurturing relationships and exposure to the natural world contribute to early development.
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.”
Kate’s early years project
Founded in 2021, the Centre for Early Childhood aims to raise awareness of the critical role early years experiences play in shaping long-term outcomes, alongside commissioning research and developing practical resources.
The announcement comes as the princess is set to visit the University of East London to launch the centre’s new resource designed for those working with young children and families.
The centre is also preparing to collaborate with early years professionals to integrate its findings into training and professional development. New research released highlights ongoing challenges for parents, with many reporting difficulty accessing clear and consistent guidance.
According to the report, “The First Five Years: A Parent Perspective”, parents often encounter conflicting advice at a time when reassurance is most needed. It notes that while parents are highly motivated, uncertainty created by mixed messages can leave them feeling unsure about how best to support their children.
The princess’s return to overseas duties, combined with a renewed focus on early years policy and research, signals a careful but deliberate expansion of her public role following a period defined by personal health challenges.
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