Princess Kate steps out ahead of 1st solo international trip since cancer diagnosis
Kate, the Princess of Wales, stepped out Wednesday in support of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood ahead of a planned international trip, her first since being diagnosed with cancer.
The Princess of Wales helped launch a guide to children's social and emotional development at the University of East London and met with students, families and researchers.
Her Wednesday visit comes ahead of a scheduled solo trip to Italy next week, her first since she revealed her cancer diagnosis publicly in 2024.
The last time Kate traveled outside of the U.K. on a solo trip was to Denmark in 2022.
Kensington Palace announced in a press release this week that Kate will travel to Reggio Emilia, Italy, from May 13-14 to support The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and the organization's efforts to expand outside of the United Kingdom.
The organization, which focuses on supporting early childhood development, was founded by the princess in 2021.
The palace said in the press release that the organization chose the Northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia because it is known for its "approach to early childhood education," which "places relationships, environment and community at the centre of a child's development, and is widely respected for creating nurturing, creative and responsive learning environments."
Kate is expected to meet with educators, parents, children and community leaders while in Reggio Emilia.
"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," a palace spokesperson said in part.
Kate first went public with her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, one month after her father-in-law, King Charles III, announced his own cancer diagnosis publicly.
Kate has not revealed the type of cancer with which she was diagnosed or the type of treatment she underwent, except to say she underwent "a course of preventative chemotherapy," at the advice of her medical team.
In January 2025, she announced she was in remission and would make a gradual return to her royal duties. She has since taken on a number of public events and official outings, most recently stepping out at a St. Patrick's Day parade in Aldershot, England.
