Here are more photos of the Princess of Wales in Reggio Emilia, Italy on Wednesday. She’ll have more events today and hopefully we’ll have some new photos later on. As a long-time reader of royal coverage in the mainstream and even tabloid press, something is really cracking me up about the coverage of Kate’s Italian trip. The British press is actually *surprised* that Kate is getting such a great reception in Italy. They’re shocked that hundreds of people waited to see her and that she had an enthusiastic walkabout. Kate avoided international work for four years out of a well-placed fear that she would get called a colonialist dumbass, or that she would be booed and scorned. As it turns out, it’s all about which country she visits. She’ll probably never visit the Caribbean for work ever again, but a majority-white country? A European country? Oh, she’ll be there with bells on. Currently, everyone is falling all over themselves to praise Princess “Catarina” and her attempts to speak Italian:
The Princess of Wales greeted well-wishers in Italian saying ‘Mi chiamo Catarina’ as she was given a rapturous welcome on her first foreign royal visit in three years.
Catherine was met by a crowd of 1,000 people – including a very excited-looking baby – as she arrived for a two-day trip to Reggio Emilia. She hugged schoolchildren, posed for selfies and accepted bouquets of flowers. Baby Elena, aged three months, was held over the barrier by her mother Marta and beamed as the future queen stopped to play with her.
Looking relaxed and radiant in a blue Edeline Lee trouser suit, the princess – who spent her gap year in Italy – told the youngsters in their native language: ‘I speak a bit of Italian. What is your name? I am Catarina.’
Royal fans lined the Piazza Camillo Prampolini in the city and Catherine stopped to greet pre-school children in the cobbled square. Some were hanging out of windows surrounding the area. It is the first overseas official visit for the princess since she went to Denmark in 2022, before her cancer treatment.
Catherine is in Reggio Emilia – a city in northern Italy famed for its pioneering approach to early years education – to boost her crusade to improve young lives. And this is just the start of what is expected to be a worldwide mission as part of her work with young children.
As I said, my guess is that Kate’s “worldwide mission” will be centered on “visiting majority-white countries,” possibly once a year, if that. I mean, she’s still Kate, good reception or not, and Princess Catarina does not want to actually work that much. But sure, this has been a much-needed positive storyline for Catarina and for the Windsors. As always, it’s remarkable how much happier she looks when her husband isn’t around. That’s true of Prince William as well – he always looks happier and more relaxed when he’s going solo. Never beating the “they bring out the worst in each other” allegations.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales was welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall. The Princess was formally met by Mayor Marco Massari before proceeding inside to his office for an official meeting with the city’s civic leaders. Her Royal Highness then moved into the Piazza Camillo Prampolini, where she greeted members of the local community.,Image: 1098573354, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales was welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall. The Princess was formally met by Mayor Marco Massari before proceeding inside to his office for an official meeting with the city’s civic leaders. Her Royal Highness then moved into the Piazza Camillo Prampolini, where she greeted members of the local community.,Image: 1098589804, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, the principal hub for the promotion and teaching of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Her Royal Highness met educators and practitioners to learn more about the philosophy and principles that underpin this globally respected educational model. The Princess then took part in an immersive clay atelier workshop.,Image: 1098589847, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, the principal hub for the promotion and teaching of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Her Royal Highness met educators and practitioners to learn more about the philosophy and principles that underpin this globally respected educational model. The Princess then took part in an immersive clay atelier workshop.,Image: 1098589855, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales was welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall. The Princess was formally met by Mayor Marco Massari before proceeding inside to his office for an official meeting with the city’s civic leaders. Her Royal Highness then moved into the Piazza Camillo Prampolini, where she greeted members of the local community.,Image: 1098589868, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales was welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall. The Princess was formally met by Mayor Marco Massari before proceeding inside to his office for an official meeting with the city’s civic leaders. Her Royal Highness then moved into the Piazza Camillo Prampolini, where she greeted members of the local community.,Image: 1098589896, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia Anna Frank to see how the Approach supports early childhood development. Her Royal Highness was introduced to members of the school community in the central piazza before visiting a classroom and spoke to teachers and parents. The Princess then visited the school’s atelier, where the in-house atelieristas led a creative session with a small group of children.,Image: 1098633432, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia Anna Frank to see how the Approach supports early childhood development. Her Royal Highness was introduced to members of the school community in the central piazza before visiting a classroom and spoke to teachers and parents. The Princess then visited the school’s atelier, where the in-house atelieristas led a creative session with a small group of children.,Image: 1098633626, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia Anna Frank to see how the Approach supports early childhood development. Her Royal Highness was introduced to members of the school community in the central piazza before visiting a classroom and spoke to teachers and parents. The Princess then visited the school’s atelier, where the in-house atelieristas led a creative session with a small group of children.,Image: 1098633643, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- 13/05/2026. Reggio Emilia, Italy. The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia Anna Frank to see how the Approach supports early childhood development. Her Royal Highness was introduced to members of the school community in the central piazza before visiting a classroom and spoke to teachers and parents. The Princess then visited the school’s atelier, where the in-house atelieristas led a creative session with a small group of children.,Image: 1098633654, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no , Credit line: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- Catherine, Princess of Wales, waves as she arrives at the city hall, as part of a two-day visit to the region, in Reggio Emilia, Italy Where: Reggio Emilia, Italy When: 13 May 2026 Credit: Cover Images
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- The Princess of Wales is welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall during the first day of her visit to Reggio Emilia on May 13, 2026 in Italy. The Princess of Wales is visiting the city in Northern Italy as The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood expands internationally. During her visit, she will explore leading approaches to early child development, which focuses on creativity, relationships and hands-on discovery. Where: Reggio Emilia, Italy When: 13 May 2026 Credit: Cover Images
She looks good in these shots – best I’ve seen her in a while. Thou she looks uncomfortable hugging the little girl – the little girl is loving it thou.
These do look good. Her outfit improved the second the weird handbag was gone, although the pants being too long still blows my mind. And the coat looks good from the front, but the back looks very cheap 1970s.
She looks great and happy. But was there a real purpose to this trip?
the purpose of the trip was for Kate to travel, wear a suit and do photo-ops. This is all a keen skit.
💯💯💯
And she’s doing it well, so credit to her for that, but “keen skit” is the perfect way to describe this.
Was this not another fact finding mission for her early years busy work?
Have the facts been found yet? Any idea what is done in this region that she would like to implement in the UK?
Didn’t she go sliding down the slide at one of her European trips (from a few years ago) apparently fact finding.
She sounds so pretentious. Some advanced work getting crowds to offset the booing in the UK. And she did really nothing about early years. I think trying to make her a statesperson will be a,flop
The kids look bored.
If you go to the town square you’re going to get a decent crowd. It’s good that she learned a few phrases so that she can talk to the children in Italian.
I mean, the visit is going fine. It’s not a disaster so that equals the most successful tour of all time in the British press, which is what always makes me roll her eyes about her. But again – what is the point of this? What is she doing? from my end it looks like she just wanted to visit a pretty Italian town and get some photo ops with babies (because no, that three month old baby does not give a crap who is holding her or playing with her.)
It’s good that she is willing to travel internationally for WORK again, but if all of that work is just visiting towns, checking out their preschools and getting photo ops – what is the point?
i wonder if this was the compromise – she’ll travel internationally but she wont do official royal tours (i.e. at the request of the government) where she might have less control over the schedule.
she’s getting such good press over speaking three sentences in Italian – why not learn some of the language in every country she visits? Why not have 3-5 sentences in French or German etc?
anyway it seems they’ve figured out how to get Kate to work – nothing but positive press and good crowds.
Re:languages. How about if the Princess of Wales learns Welsh??
Now now. Let’s not put too high of expectations on her. She’s recovering from cancer!
Matt Wilkinson is saying this was set up after the Australia trip.
So this is only going to happen the next time Harry and Meghan do work outside of the U.S.
Just how is keen going to improve young lives. This,is a farce. She never bothered even visiting her own relatives the Sussex kids. And took park properly away from a community for privacy. She is so fake
Not a single poc in the crowd. As for the crowd my theory is that this might one of few occasions where celebs or popular person visiting this place in Italy. This is the first time I’m hearing this place in Italy. Also from the view and look at the crowd once again this place has rarely and few poc . Also poc education needs different teaching and work how will this white education method is helpful. This is same dumb thing like go outside and nature helps when you live in house with acre for free but many struggle to pay their rent in polluted city etc.
The hypocrisy all this time when her children have nanny and best education rest of brits especially poor brit doesn’t and couldn’t come out of their life. This is not america where you work hard , you can achieve this dream but there are many gatekeepers in UK in all areas that’s why many average Brits doesn’t support their actors and actress because majority comes from certain class. That’s why many people loves football players because most comes from bottom and this is one of the reason where media and likes of daily mail have intense hate towards those self made.
Maybe POC aren’t interested in the event? Or are you saying she purposefully didn’t bus in people of color?
No that city doesn’t seems have that many poc. So whatever their being expert applies to multicultural british?
So, the Fail…failed to get the Italian form of her name correct. It’s CatErina (source: it’s one of my middle names). I think CatArina is Portuguese. The pronunciation would be pretty much the same, but still. Get it right!
It’s so incredibly anglocentric to praise a person for speaking even the tiniest bit of a foreign language. That’s a stereotype that native English speakers aren’t going to beat anytime soon. In much of the rest of the world, it’s not at all notable when a person speaks more than one language. In Europe, that’s basically the default for anyone under 60. But that said, this is one time where I won’t be too hard on Kate. Italians generally do appreciate it when tourists at least attempt a few words, even if they butcher them. The same goes for many countries, really. It’s better than just speaking English louder and slower, at any rate.
You are correct. Source: Brazilian mom named Catarina.
I’m wondering why she felt that she needed to translate her name at all.
Ha, this was my question too.
Years ago I studied abroad in Spain and my name is pretty much the same in spanish and English – Rebecca. My best friend was Katie (Katherine but always went by Katie). She went around introducing herself as Katarina for the first month or something until finally someone that we were becoming friends with (who was Spanish) was like stop that, we can say Katie, and we like it better, lmao.
It’s very “first day of junior high foreign language class”, right? But English speakers in particular seem to enjoy using the “exotic” foreign forms of their own names. A few years back, I lead a couple of Catholic pilgrimages (one to the Marian shrines of France, Portugal, and Spain, and another to the major shrines of Italy), with most of our group being retirees who had never traveled outside the US before. Many of them were actually a little disappointed when I told them that the French/Spanish/Portuguese/Italian forms of their names were essentially identical to their real ones, or that native speakers of those languages would have no trouble pronouncing them. I don’t want to be too critical, because they obviously meant well and were trying to make a friendly connection with the locals, but it was a bit silly.
Daniela Relph reporting on the visit for BBC news reported that the RF NEED KATE’S STAR POWER. The Firm need show stopping receptions to prove their worth? There IS pressure on both PoWs to do a lot more foreign tours. Is devoted hubbie going to be proud of his wife having a well received solo tour? They ARE competitive with each other, after all. Is he going to want his own SUPERBOWL moment? Where is the best country for Will to visit and knock them dead? Aston Villaland perhaps?
Yeah, I can’t imagine that Charles and Camilla are thrilled. Or even possibly William, who knows? The BM should be happy bc maybe this will mean more overnight trips in the future.
I’m starting my day in a positive mood. Kate looks good and genuinely happy. This is the role she’ll play for the rest of her life so all I can do is wish her well.
aWill she? Will the monarchy survive a couple who do f all? Or Maybe he’ll want a divorce
Genuinely happy to be greeted by crowds? Well, that’s good. The home crowds have been rough lately with yellow signs. Look, it’s good for the media and royalists. Kate hasn’t wanted to go on a trip since the Caribbean tour so maybe this will jumpstart more travel-related work. Kate should do it more often, especially if it has her looking genuinely happy.
They are trying to make keen happen. But this was apparently all pre planned and staged. There are still protests in the UK. That photo ops won’t stop. She is imo not relatable to families who are struggling due to a bad economy
@Tessa. It’s obvious you’re not a fan and neither am I. However, I’m ok if Kate finally manages to pull it together, even if only for a few photos. We’re reminded every day about the sh*t show the world has become and sometimes it’s good to just breathe and let others go about their day.
Kate should study the topic, she’d have more credibility. And yes, she should apologize to meghan
I have no problem with this. Is her Italian a bit basic? Sure. But that’s alright. She’s talking to kids. No big speeches are needed. She looks happy. For once. My problem with her is that she was so foul to Meghan, who was likely blindsided by the vitriolic one-sided low-rent elbowy manoeuvring this woman does to secure her status in a family that would be happy to see her just go away. But then again, to play devil’s advocate, that’s how they treat all the wives who marry in — like they’re surplus to requirements, bar breeding. Kate made her bed. She can roll over and land in Italy, and she’d be smart to cultivate contacts abroad, more generally.
In italian is Caterina not Catarina
I am genuinely asking this in good faith but what is the “worldwide mission”? Has there been a launch about this? What is she going to do? What are the aims? What does she want to achieve?
The cynic in me says lots of photo-ops with babies and little kids. I also think her to go to move of getting down to eye level with the children is to make sure they are both in frame. (You saw less of that when she was off-duty wrangling kiddos at Pippa’s wedding.)
So basically what she’s been doing the last, what? 8 years of this project?
As always, there is no goals other than to imitate Diana by bowing in front of the children, – Greeting and smiling and back to the palace!
Diana was a natural at this. Keen is not.
So I saw a lot of not understanding yesterday on this too…
Reggio Emilia is HUGE in the international landscape for early childhood education. I’m a trustee at a Reggio school here in the US and we routinely pay to send our teachers to Reggio Emilia for training. It is not a sleepy Italian town- it is a Mecca for people who care about play-based exploratory education- which is Kate’s whole thing. She doesn’t need to bring experts with her because she is going to see the experts. Would be like visiting the pope and bringing your parish chaplain for “legitimacy”. The press is doing a rough shod job of expressing its importance, so from that perspective it’s a bust, but her visiting in the way that she is should have been a slam dunk.
I think the idea of “bringing experts” is more so that she can take what she learns back to the UK – that she should have a team with her of people who are going to implement some of these things they’re learning in the UK, or advocate for more play based schools, etc.
Kate is not a teacher or an administrator or a government official (at least not on this trip, according to KP), so I think thats what people mean when they say “she should have experts with her.” Not experts to instruct the people at Reggio Emillia, because that’d be silly, but experts who are in a position to take what they learn and bring it back to the UK.
Ok I’m genuinely asking ,not sarcasm or nothing. She is going to see the experts for what ? How is she improving the life of the people? Is her children benefits from that or people of uk? How she is going to apply this to use ? This is another vanity job . It’s time to call it vanity job.
If this were really Kate’s “calling,” she had ample time to get a degree and maybe just maybe publish an article about it on her own. She still can do this. For it to be meaningful.
Similar to what @Maddie said and even what I’ve said above: so what is the purpose of seeing the experts?
I am aware that she’s gone to the best of the best in early years but what is her plan after? Is she going to be sharing the knowledge? Is she going to be creating educational materials? Will she be opening up Emilia schools in the UK and provide funding?
The press coverage is a combination of a lack of clarity from Kate’s own communications team about the goals of the trip and Kate herself not doing much in general so the press are left with no choice but to report on the aesthetics and downplay it.
The resources are wasted on her for an exercice in vanity. If she was serious then she brings actual teachers for training and pays their way for it.
Again how does this trip help British kids? With Sure Start killed how do these techniques get applied to the British kids who have nowhere to go now.
That’s the issue and has always been the issue.
There’s no 💥 on social media like it is for Meghan when she’s out & about…in fact…if it weren’t for THIS site I wouldn’t even know THIS was going on…and I go to People & Page Six….but that’s the ONLY reason William HASN’T divorced Kate…because she DOESN’T make a huge impact…and no he’s not going to appreciate THIS impact either…The fallout from this is gonna be 🔥 between Charles Camilla & William & Anne…the “Haternation” will be activated!😲
I LOL’d at this: “Catherine was met by a crowd of 1,000 people – including a very excited-looking baby”
No diss to the baby, but that baby would be excited by a jangling set of keys.
Kate’s foundation should fund some teachers to train/observe at Reggio Emilia schools, and bring some educators with her. The idea that she is on a fact-finding mission of an internationally well known education system is ludicrous. She can’t be taken seriously. What kind of impact has her foundation had? They need to try to make this more than busy work to give Kate a profile. On the other hand, it’s a good thing that she is getting such a positive response. It might help her to be a nicer person if she actually experiences some success that is her own.
It would be “beyond” Keen to “manage” professors and teachers and advise them considering all…Scholars and practitioners in the feel IMO would not take Keen seriously as an “authority.”
QuiteContrary, Yesssssss! I still hope that she becomes a runaway princess and settles in Italy. She’s miserable in England and people secretly and openly hate her for her laziness and malice. So start a new life in Italy. I mean it!