Kate Middleton will see how communities transformed abandoned military equipment into globally influential models of early years education in the years following the Second World War on her visit to Northern Italy, UK next week.
According to Reuters news agency, the trip will take Princess Kate to Reggio Emilia, where local residents, many of whom were women, helped finance some of Italy’s first nursery schools by selling scrap metal from equipment left behind by the retreating German army after the war.
Those early efforts laid the foundation for the educational “Reggio Emilia approach”, which is now influential around the world and is consistent with Kate’s focus on children’s social and emotional well-being.
The wife of Prince William, heir to the throne, and mother of three, launched the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood in 2021 to bring together experts and research in the field.
The trip, which runs from May 13 to 14, will be Kate’s first official trip abroad after completing cancer treatment.
“Not long ago, British representatives visited our city and our early childhood education services, and shortly after we heard about the princess’s interest in visiting us,” Marwa Mahmoud, education councilor for Reggio Emilia, told Reuters.
Italian officials said Kate’s interest focused on the historical roots of Reggio’s schools, their public character, the role of women, the connection between nature and education, and strong community involvement.
