After a three and a half year absence from royal tours, Kate is about to embark on a rare solo overseas trip.
It’s a significant milestone, not just in her recovery post cancer, but also in the future direction of her public role, and aides tell me she is “excited” about it.
While all eyes have been on a rumoured visit to the United States with Prince William this summer – rumours that have yet to materialise into a formal invitation or fully-fledged plan – her team have been quietly building a two-day programme of engagements in Italy.
The northern city of Reggio Emilia is the perfect choice for her return, with its global reputation for pioneering early years education – something the Princess is utterly passionate about.
Kate has rightly taken her time, after the huge challenge of navigating a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy and remission and then a carefully paced return to public life. There has been a clear determination, both from Kensington Palace and the Waleses themselves, not to rush that process.
Behind palace walls, the trip is being viewed as an important marker – not just in the evolution of her work, but in her own return to full royal duties.
In November 2024, William suggested that his wife would return to international travel before too long, saying: “I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.”
But the couple are also mindful of not leaving their three children for too long if they do travel overseas together, so a solo trip allows her to focus on the work itself without worrying about the day-to-day demands of school WhatsApp admin, doing the school run and attending sports matches.
It also means the spotlight will be on the work itself, rather than on the dynamic of the couple as a hugely popular royal double act.
It makes sense that she is making her return now, to highlight an issue she cares deeply about in a setting less pressured than she might encounter during a formal overseas visit on behalf of the government.
It’s not a high–stakes diplomatic tour, but a focused working trip centred on the cause which has become the cornerstone of her public work over the past decade or more.
It helps too that after months of turbulence, the royal family is riding high right now off the back of the King’s triumphant state visit to America. Many of those who previously questioned the value of that visit found themselves rapidly revising their opinion over the course of the four-day trip.
Critical to the monarchy
After a long period dominated by illness, uncertainty and family tensions, the monarchy suddenly feels more stable and future-proof than it has done in some time.
Kate is absolutely key to this and critical too to the future of the royal family. She has proved a constant over 15 years of marriage to William and, all being well, will continue to be a constant in our lives for decades to come.
At a time when the monarchy has been tested, too, by family scandal, her steady presence is one of its greatest assets.
The challenges of the past few years have only endeared her further in the eyes of many, who have been inspired by her resilience and courage in sharing some of the most vulnerable moments we have ever seen from a member of the royal family. In an institution criticised in the past for its emotional distance, her openness in the face of illness, like the King’s, has changed perceptions.
The outpouring of concern and affection for the Princess when she shared her cancer diagnosis with the world proved how well loved she is around the world, so she will be warmly welcomed when she lands in Italy.
She and her message will be welcomed with open arms in Reggio Emilia, where locals take great pride in the pioneering work of their educators and are thrilled to be hosting her.
I’m told by Italian media colleagues that she’ll be treated to what they call a “bagno di folla”, which roughly translates as a walkabout in an adoring crowd.
© Getty ImagesTight security measures are being put in place for what is expected to be a huge turnout of wellwishers hoping to catch a glimpse of the Princess, whose ability to connect with people in these unscripted moments will no doubt go down a storm.
It’s a measure of how popular she is around the world that global outlets, as well as the usual travelling UK media pack, will fly to Italy to cover her big moment.
Early years expert
Together she and William are a powerful duo, but over a decade and a half, Kate has built up a deserved reputation and expertise in the field of child development. Those who work with her recount the hours she spends poring over the latest studies and research papers and, when she has world-leading experts in the room, peppering them with questions.
She is deeply engaged with the science behind it all, not just there for the cosy interactions with babies and their carers.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAnd it is something she is dedicated to for life. The Princess has a very keen understanding that her role has to be approached as a marathon and not a sprint and she views things through a very long-term lens.
Unlike a politician driven by quick PR hits and short-term wins, what she sets out to achieve will not be measured in days, weeks or months, but rather in years, decades and generations, so she has settled on an issue that could potentially transform society over that time.
The last Princess of Wales, Diana, the mother-in-law she sadly never met, was key to shining a global spotlight on issues like HIV/AIDS and landmines.
Kate’s cause may feel less edgy and is far from controversial, but changing attitudes towards social and emotional development and the importance of relationships could ultimately have just as significant an impact on society, even if it shows itself more gradually.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetHer work is underpinned by the understanding that many of society’s biggest problems, from mental health to addiction and family breakdown, are rooted in the way children are raised in the first five years of life.
The argument at the heart of it is simple: If you want healthier, happier adults in society, you have to start with childhood.
This is what is driving the Princess to keep pushing for better understanding and provision. She knows she has the platform needed to really give the sector the recognition it needs to shift the dial for future generations and she is perhaps the best-placed public figure in the world right now to achieve that.
© Getty ImagesIt helps that she practises what she preaches. Kate passionately believes in the importance of human connections and strong relationships, embodied in the way she and William are raising George, Charlotte and Louis, with no smartphones and plenty of quality family time together.
Friends often describe the family’s set-up as deliberately normal, despite the far from normal circumstances they are in.
Of course, we can’t all balance parenting and work and real life as easily as she is able to – and she has more help than most – but we can all aspire to do the best we can for all families and young children growing up in this increasingly distracted world.
And perhaps that’s why her message resonates so well with people. Behind her royal title, global fame and undeniable privilege, she’s a mother trying to make the case that stronger families, better relationships and happier childhoods really can transform our future.
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