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Catherine, Princess of Wales revealed a new variation of her name while receiving a warm welcome from an estimated 3,000 people during her visit to Reggio Emilia today.
Wearing a tailored blue trouser suit by Edeline Lee, the Princess delighted crowds by greeting children in Italian, saying: “I speak a bit of Italian. What is your name? I am Catarina.”
During the two-day trip to the northern Italian city, the future Queen happily embraced schoolchildren, posed for selfies with admirers, and accepted armfuls of flowers from well-wishers.
One especially touching moment came when three-month-old baby Elena, lifted up by her mother Marta, smiled as Catherine, Princess of Wales stopped to interact with her.
Supporters packed the cobbled square, with some even watching from nearby windows, as Catherine, Princess of Wales spent around 15 minutes greeting members of the public who had travelled from across the region to see her.
The Princess has long held a personal connection to Italy, having spent part of her gap year studying language and art history at the British Institute of Florence.
Her Italian-speaking skills clearly impressed the young children she met during the walkabout.
Five-year-old Alice from Robinson Pre-School later said: “She asked my name in Italian. She spoke Italian very well.”
Teacher Roberta Marzi described meeting Catherine, Princess of Wales as an “emotional” experience, adding: “She asked them some simple questions, but her Italian was perfect; she spoke clearly.”
Throughout the engagement, the Princess repeatedly crouched down to speak with preschool children at eye level, warmly greeting them with “Buongiorno” and using the phrase “Parlo un po’ d’italiano,” while gesturing modestly that she only speaks a little Italian.
According to an aide, the royal was also reminiscing about her time living in Florence during her younger years.
During her visit inside the town hall, Catherine, Princess of Wales was presented with the Primo Tricolore, Reggio Emilia’s highest honour.
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The ceremony was held in the Sala del Tricolore, adorned with Italian flags, where Mayor Marco Massari and Prefect Salvatore Angieri formally recognised Catherine, Princess of Wales for her work and advocacy in early childhood development.
After listening to the translated tribute, the Princess placed her hand over her heart and responded: “Wow, what an honour. I’m very grateful, it’s very gratefully accepted.”
She later spent around half an hour meeting three local “nonnas”—Carla Nironi, Iona Bartoli and Eletta Bertani—all born around the time of the Second World War and regarded as key figures in shaping the educational philosophy.
During the conversation, Catherine told them: “I love that you put children and childhood at the heart of the community, and I’m really fascinated to learn more about it.”
The visit marks a significant milestone in Catherine, Princess of Wales’s recovery journey following her cancer diagnosis and surgery in early 2024, with the Princess officially announcing she had entered remission in January 2025.
Those close to her have described the trip as a “huge moment” and the beginning of a broader international effort centred on early childhood development.
One source explained: “She’s looking forward to being here, she’s energised, she’s enthused, she’s excited to see Reggio Emilia in action and meet the people here too. This is a global mission.”
A Palace official added: “This visit is an important step in the princess’s recovery journey. She takes great joy from this work.”
Meanwhile, Christian Guy, executive director of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, emphasised the wider importance of the initiative, saying: “Early childhood isn’t just a stage of human growth, it is a societal strategy.”
