The Princess of Wales is to make her first overseas visit since
her treatment for cancer.
Kate is heading to Italy next week as part of her work with the
Early Years Foundation.
Her two day stay in Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy, will
include a string of engagements linked to her work in early
years.
It also marks a major moment for her Royal Foundation Centre for
Early Childhood as it expands internationally.
The focus of the trip is development in early childhood and the
meetings and visits included are part of an exploration of leading
international approaches to supporting young people and those who
care for them.
During her stay in Italy, the Princess of Wales will meet
parents, children, educators and business and civic leaders as she
explores how their approach shapes young lives.
Early years has been a central strand of the work of the
Princess of Wales.
Ahead of the trip, Kesington Palace 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.”
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an
internationally renowned educational philosophy which is based on
all children having strong potential for development and which puts
child rights as central to its approach. It is described as using
the ”hundred languages belonging to all human beings” and which
allow children to grow in relation to others.
Among its main planks are using the environment as an educator
and collegial and relations based work for all.
The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood was established
in 2021 and brings together research, collaboration and practical
action. It aims to drive long term change in how early years are
understood and prioritised by society.
In 2023, it ran the Shaping Us campaign to raise awareness of
how important the first five years of life are to development. In
2025, it set out 30 key social and emotional skills that underpin
early development in its Shaping Us Framework.
The Princess of Wales will be in Italy on May 13th and 14th.
