Princess of Wales draws screaming crowds in Italy as Catherine’s real mission begins

The future queen showed how she plans to turn global fascination into lasting change

There is no doubt that the Princess of Wales is an international icon.

Officials in Reggio Emilia estimated 3,000 people were in the city’s central square to welcome Catherine to Italy, some of whom had been queuing since 7am for an afternoon royal visit.

 

I observed the princess shaking hands with as many members of the public as possible: accepting flowers, gifts and selfie invitations.

Classes at the local secondary school overlooking the square appeared to be disrupted, as dozens of students leaned out of windows to cheer Britain’s future queen.

Then there were the screams – piercing screams from dedicated fans.

Some in Catherine’s team had never seen such enthusiasm for a member of the Royal Family, and, having covered many international tours over the last few years, I can understand why.

The last official international visit the princess embarked on was to Boston with Prince William in 2022.

I covered the couple there, where I observed similar crowds of thousands, desperate to catch a glimpse of the princess.

Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales drew screaming crowds in Italy, but her real mission is only beginning

 | GETTY

Now, following a period of absence for her cancer treatment, the princess is back with a new determination to use her popularity to highlight an issue she cares about.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the princess travelled to a tiny school in the suburbs named after the diarist and holocaust victim Anne Frank – a nod to future generations to strive for peace.

Kensington Palace described the school as “a municipal pre-school for 3 – 6-year-olds, which uses the Reggio Emilia approach in its teaching, with a particular emphasis on creativity, relationships and the learning environment.”

It is thought to be the first time the princess had seen the world-leading approach in action, which encourages children to be active learners by exploring the world around them.

Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales meets Reggio Emilia Mayor Marco Massari

 | PA

She remarked: “If only more educational settings had this approach” to help children learn the skills needed to form good relationships from a young age.

The princess also said the world children are growing up in now is “fast-paced”, and they need to be “encouraged to slow down”.

The future queen’s words, naturally, have the potential to be amplified around the world.

The challenge is making the right people listen, without dipping into politics, to make the changes she wants to see in the way children are raised around the globe.

Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales greeted fans who had been waiting since 7am

 | PA

This seismic ambition is not something that will happen overnight, and not on a two-day trip to Italy.

However, this is a lifelong mission for the Princess of Wales, who wants to make the issue as talked about as the climate change debate.

I predict we will see similar fact-finding trips around the world from the princess, highlighting desirable approaches to early childhood development.

Some may question whether her message of hope and positivity can cut through in areas of the world that, sadly, experience terrible violence, famine and poverty.

Yet, unless the Princess of Wales was using her status and fame to highlight the importance of early childhood development (and the effects it has on adulthood), it is unlikely the issue would be present in the public’s minds.