The Princess of Wales's two-day trip to Italy has been described as a "significant moment" for the future Queen as she seeks to expand her early childhood campaign on the global stage. Catherine, who will arrive in the red-roofed Renaissance city of Bologna on Wednesday afternoon, is feeling "energised and enthused" for her first overseas trip since her cancer diagnosis in early 2024.

Eighteen months after Catherine announced she was in remission, the trip is seen as an "important step" in the Princess' recovery as she throws herself into her early years' work with renewed vigour and plans to "take it up a gear". Though her team are mindful to find the right balance as she manages her return to work alongside her ongoing recovery.

"This is a huge moment for the princess," an aide to the princess said. "There will be many highlights of 2026 but this being her first international visit post her recovery... this is a really significant moment for her."

They added: "I think it is only right that her first international trip since her illness is one that is focused on an issue that she is committed to championing for decades to come, and is a real issue that she wants to shine a spotlight on."

Catherine's two-day trip is centred on her work, highlighting the crucial role a child's first five years has on the rest of their life, and will see the princess learn more about the Reggio Emilia approach to education. The philosophy is internationally recognised, with several education authorities in the UK being influenced by the policy that is child-led and focuses on the environment as the "third teacher", encouraging creativity and spending time outdoors.

An aide said she's "excited to see the approach in action" and learn more about the philosophy, having read about it extensively in recent years. Early childhood has been at the centre of Catherine's work for over a decade, but ahead of her arrival in Bologna, her team at Kensington Palace remarked that there is a change in pace when it comes to her work in the area, compared to before her illness. A source added: "She's taking it up a gear."

Her Italian job, which marks the first time she has visited the country in an official capacity, is the first of several overseas trips she plans to undertake in this area, an aide said. While they would not expand on what visits could be in the pipeline, the official said she's been greatly looking forward to returning to Italy, having "happy memories" of her gap year in Florence in 2000.

They also revealed that Catherine has been talking about the visit at home with her family, adding: "She's had many conversations with her husband, the Prince of Wales, and her children about this trip, and they're looking forward to hearing about it on her return to the United Kingdom."

On Wednesday afternoon, the Princess will be welcomed to the city at Reggio Emilia's Town Hall by Mayor Marco Massari, where she will be awarded the 'Primo Tricolore' - the city's highest honour in recognition of her Early Years work. The Princess will be given the green, white and red flag that inspired modern-day Italy's national symbol on the first day of her visit.

She will also visit schools to get a first-hand understanding of the approach. Christian Guy, Executive Director of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said: "We are now entering and beginning an important new phase of the Centre's journey.

"Building on her UK and international work in this area for many years, The Princess is here with her Centre for Early Childhood to lead a new global conversation about this, believing we now need to focus on early brain development and nurturing the whole child with the same urgency and sense of mission as other global challenges like climate change - if we truly want to get ahead of these challenges in the future. This is about genuine prevention."