Italian children say ciao to Princess of Wales on her first overseas trip since illness

Britain's Princess of Wales visited on Wednesday (May 13) the Italian city of Reggio Emilia, renowned for its approach to early childhood education, on her first official overseas trip since undergoing cancer treatment.

Kate, the wife of heir-to-the-throne Prince William, was starting a two-day visit as part of her work focusing on childhood development, a central theme of her public work.

The trip focuses on the "Reggio Emilia approach", which places relationships, the environment and community at the heart of a child's development.

After visiting the city town hall - where she was awarded the Primo Tricolore, Reggio Emilia's highest civic prize - the princess met educators and practitioners at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre.

She later visited a preschool for children aged 3-6 to see the Reggio Emilia Approach in action. With an Italian "ciao", Kate greeted the pupils, who gave her a warm welcome trying to get a hug from the princess.

In Reggio Emilia, classrooms are organised around open communal spaces known as piazzas, with in‑house kitchens and ateliers that encourage children to experiment with materials, colours and sounds.

-Antonio Denti, Matteo Negri/Reuters