Catherine, Princess of Wales, was all smiles on the first day of her visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy. On May 13th, she received a heartfelt welcome from families and children, marking a major milestone as her first overseas royal trip since completing cancer treatment.
© GettyThe Princess of Wales arrived at Piazza Camillo Prampolini outside Reggio Emilia’s Town, where crowds of locals gathered to greet her with signs, babies, and waves as she kicked off the two-day visit in Northern Italy.
© GettyAs she made her way through the crowd, she stopped by a group of boys. One of them saw the camera and knew it was his time to shine. He looked straight at the lens, leaning towards the princess with his finger dramatically pressed against his cheek.
© Samir HusseinHe was straight up posing, with one foot perched against his shin, almost making a tree pose you'd see in a yoga class. His adorable smirk made it clear he was proud. Meanwhile, his three friends were locked in, looking at the princess.
The photo quickly went viral on x, formerly known as Twitter, with people praising the obviously hilarious kid. "This little Italian boy knew the assignment perfectly and delivered a truly historic photo with Princess Catherine that he can look back on when he’s older," someone wrote.
Catherine's connection to the center
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe outing highlighted a cause that has become deeply personal and central to Kate’s royal work over the past several years. Through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, the Princess has worked to raise awareness around the importance of emotional and social development during a child’s earliest years.
The trip comes as her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood continues to expand its work internationally, with a growing focus on emotional well-being and child development.
Kate spent much of the visit interacting with local children and families gathered in the square. At one point, she even greeted some youngsters in Italian, reportedly introducing herself as “Catarina,” the Italian version of Catherine, while asking the children their names.
According to the Daily Mail, she told the children, “I speak a bit of Italian. What is your name? I am Catarina.”
© PoolHer stop in Reggio Emilia is especially meaningful because the city is internationally known for its influential approach to early education, which emphasizes creativity, relationships, and hands-on discovery.
A local teacher who met the Princess told PEOPLE that Kate thanked her for visiting the city and described her as “very down-to-earth.” The educator added, “When she started her early childhood project, I always thought that sooner or later she would come here because it’s been a staple in our community since the Second World War.”
© Samir Hussein/WireImageThe trip also marks an emotional return to overseas royal duties for Kate following a difficult year after publicly revealing her cancer diagnosis in 2024. Since announcing that she completed treatment, the Princess has gradually returned to public life while continuing to prioritize her health and family.
