Princess Kate makes pasta in Italy on first overseas trip since cancer treatment

Princess Kate spent Thursday morning making pasta in northern Italy, capping a two-day visit that marked her first official overseas trip since cancer treatment and underscored her return to major international duties.

The Princess of Wales drew crowds on Wednesday in Reggio Emilia, where hundreds lined the main square and nearby streets. Some waved Union Jacks, while others held a banner reading “Ciao Kate,” as the city turned out to greet her amid a trip closely tied to her work on childhood development.

Reggio Emilia has long been known for its approach to early childhood education, and local officials used the visit to frame the city as a model of community-based learning. They also pointed to the historical roots of its schools, the role of women in financing early nursery education after World War Two, and the link the city draws between community, nature and learning.

On Thursday morning, Kate visited a local preschool and the Remida center, where materials headed for disposal are reused as tools for children’s learning. She then traveled to lunch at the rural Agriturismo “Al Vigneto” farmhouse between Reggio Emilia and Parma, where chef Ivan Lampredi showed her how to prepare tortelli, the stuffed pasta associated with the region.

The setting gave the visit a softer but still pointed diplomatic edge. Italy last year had UNESCO recognize its national cuisine as intangible cultural heritage, part of a broader effort to preserve culinary traditions across generations. Against that backdrop, the pasta lesson became more than a photo opportunity. It tied Kate’s return to the everyday rituals of family life, local identity and intergenerational care.

Kate also met families from several generations and discussed how care, creativity and connection are carried forward through ordinary traditions such as cooking. During the visit, she greeted one preschool child in Italian, asking, “Buongiorno, what's your name?” When the child introduced herself, Kate replied, “I’m Catherine.”

The trip carried symbolic weight well beyond the kitchen. It allowed Italy to showcase its schools, its food culture and its civic pride, while Britain’s future queen reintroduced herself on the international stage through an event rooted in local culture and public education.