PRINCESS Kate charmed Italy as she spoke the native lingo and told locals who travelled through the night to greet her – to “call me Caterina”.
The princess, 44, dressed in a blue trouser suit was given a huge rapturous applause as she arrived in the main square in Reggio Emilia.
Kate was welcomed by the city’s Mayor Marco Massari – and around three thousand locals – as she began a rare foreign solo working trip with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
The two-day trip is a major milestone for the future queen and is her first extended official foreign tour in nearly three-and-a-half years.
Kate spoke fluent Italian learned from her gap year in Florence 25 years ago, delighting children, families and even a three-year-old baby in her mother’s arms.
She was heard saying “piacere” – meaning pleased to meet you – as she accepted offers to shake hands and pose for selfies.
She revealed her warm welcome after four years without foreign solo travel made her feel “emotional” – before later leaving some teachers in tears.
Crowds screamed “Kate” as she arrived and she bent down to meet children from a local pre-school.
Around 20 children aged between three and five-years old from Reggio Emilia-based Robinson Pre-School, greeted the princess in the main square.
Alice, 5, said afterwards: “She asked my name in Italian. She spoke Italian very well.”
Teacher Roberta Marzi said meeting the princess was “emotional”.
She added: “She asked them some simple questions but her Italian was perfect she spoke clearly.”
Maria Angelo Redaelli set her alarm for 3.15am to make the 200km trip from her home to Reggio Emilia.
She said: “I just love the royal family and I just had to be here. And I am an English teacher so I want to tell my students about her.
“The princess said my hat was very glamorous and I gave her a rose. She is so beautiful.”
Kate went on a 15 minute walkabout outside the Town Hall which in Italy is called a “Crowd Bath” and shared a tender moment with three-month-old Elena.
Marilena Prediere, 43, of Reggio Emilia spoke to Kate outside.
She said: “I said give a big hug to your children. I said you are beautiful and it’s a pleasure to meet you.
“I’m from Reggio Emilia and this is a historic moment.”
Inside the town hall, the Princess was awarded the Primo Tricolore, the city’s highest honour where she hailed local heroes for putting “children at the heart of the community”.
In the main chamber, the “Sala del Tricolore” which was adorned with Italian flags, the Princess posed for a photograph with the mayor, Marco Massari, and Salvatore Angieri, Prefect of Reggio Emilia.
During a ceremony the mayor read out her credentials in the early years sector.
After hearing the translated version, the Princess put her hand on her heart and said: “Wow, what an honour. I’m very grateful, it’s very gratefully accepted.”
The mayor explained the history of the chamber, in Italian and Kate said: “Oh really! I can imagine!… So much history…”
She spent half an hour sitting down with local “nonnas” – Carla Nironi, Iona Bartoli, and Eletta Bertani – who had worked on the Reggio Emilia Approach when it began 75 years ago.
Kate said: “I love that you put children and childhood at the heart of the community, and I’m really fascinated to learn more about it.
She added: “You obviously had to really fight for it. Why was it so important to you to invest in the community?”
Afterwards, she was heard to tell the mayor that it “really shows the power of investing early, to avoid later difficulties down the line”.
And said: “I’m really grateful for the warm welcome.”
Kate also visited the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre where the Reggio Emilia Approach is taught.
The two-day visit to Reggio Emilia is the beginning of a “really significant moment” after her cancer recovery, an aide to the princess has said.
They added that Kate “taking it up a gear” in pursuit of her “global mission”.
The future Queen plans to take her early years crusade around the world with renewed vigour following her cancer experience, the aide said.
Kate revealed at the start of last year she was in remission after receiving chemotherapy treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
She has not travelled abroad for a major visit since December 2022 when she went to Boston in the US with the Prince of Wales for his Earthshot Prize award ceremony.
