The Princess of Wales travelled to Italy's Reggio Emilia for the beginning of her first engagement abroad in years following her cancer diagnosis and shared a heartfelt message of reflection.
Her solo trip was aimed at shining a spotlight on early childhood studies and learning about the legendary Italian approach as she spent time with locals in the northern region.
As she closed out her two-day tour with a pasta-making session on a rural farm stay in Parma, the 44-year-old mother-of-three shared a message on her social media account.
On Instagram, she posted a message that read: "Over the past two days in Reggio Emilia, I have seen first hand the power of nature and creativity that put human connection at the centre of a child’s world.
"I have had such a deeply moving and unforgettable time here. Thank you to the people of Reggio Emilia for welcoming me into a culture of care with such warmth and generosity."
Prince William's wife added: "Our collective work in early childhood must be to protect and nurture the connections that form the foundations of lifelong wellbeing. Grazie di cuore, C."
In English, her sign-off translated to, "Thank you from the heart".
© Getty ImagesKate's final day in Italy
Before leaving and heading back to her home at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, the princess enjoyed a visit to Salvador Allende pre-school, famed for celebrating outdoor learning.
For her outing, she chose to wear a Blaize Milano blazer with a light pinstripe design and a dress with a pleated beige skirt. Kate added some Camilla Elphick heels to complete her outfit and recycled her hairstyle from the trip's first day, loose mermaid waves.
Ahead of her arrival at the pre-school, her team outlined her schedule for the day and shared a note on Instagram that read: "Day two in Reggio Emilia, where approaches to early learning come to life across schools, ateliers, and community spaces shaped by creativity and shared care.
"Here, attuned and attentive caregivers, alongside nature as 'the third teacher', nurture an immense sense of connection in the children, which is so crucial in the early years and beyond."
© WireImageA connection to early years education
Early years education was one of the princess's biggest passions, which she chose to champion upon becoming a member of the royal family, so much so that in 2020, she adopted it as a key pillar of her philanthropic work.
She previously explained that her interest evolved "right from the early days, meeting lots of people who are suffering with addiction or poor mental health, and hearing time and time again that their troubles now in adulthood stem right back from early childhood experience".
Kate launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, a foundation that focuses on research, developing new solutions and campaigns to raise awareness.
