Princess Kate Makes Her First Solo Trip Abroad Since Cancer Diagnosis—Just Months After Family Moved Into New Royal Estate

Princess Kate has kicked off her first solo overseas visit since she announced in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, traveling from the Wales family's royal estate in Windsor to Italy, where she will spend time focusing on a childhood development initiative that she founded in 2021.

Kate, 44, was seen being greeted by crowds of locals as she arrived in the town of Reggio Emilia in the northern part of the European country on May 13, when she began her two-day tour of the country.

The mother of three beamed from ear to ear as she met with members of the public, enjoying a particularly heartwarming interaction with a mother and her baby.

Her trip has been described as a "fact-finding mission" for her charitable organization, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, and will focus around the region's focus on early education, a topic that Kate is understood to be particularly interested in.

Ahead of her arrival in Italy, a spokesperson for the princess told NBC News that Kate "wants to look at other [early childhood] models around the world and really create a global conversation," adding that the trip was made all the more significant because it is her first overseas visit since her recovery from cancer.

"This is a huge moment for the princess," they went on. "There will be many highlights of 2026 but this being her first international visit post her recovery ... this is a really significant moment for her."

As for Kate's personal well-being, the aide noted that she feels "energized" and "enthused" about the visit, stating: "She's looking forward to being here ... she's excited to see Reggio Emilia in action and meet the people here, too."

Reggio Emilia is renowned worldwide for its unique approach to childhood development that focuses on the idea that children all have different ways of learning and processing information, and encourages teachers to tailor their approach to each child based on their specific needs.

"This educational project was initiated in the aftermath of World War II and was intended to be progressive, democratic and liberating," according to The Education Hub.

"The Reggio Emilia approach takes a constructivist and social-constructivist approach to teaching and learning, grounding curriculum in children’s inquires and projects."

While Kate carries out her European trip, her husband, Prince William, has remained in the U.K., where he hosted Māori Queen Te Arikinui Nga wai hono i te po at Windsor Castle on May 12.

William and Kate have long been based in the Windsor area, however they recently went through a significant relocation to a new dwelling that has been widely described as their "forever home," where they plan to remain even after the prince ascends to the throne.

News of the couple's move was revealed in August, when it was reported that several updates and upgrades were being made to the historic property, which is known as Forest Lodge, ahead of the family's arrival.

According to the BBC, the couple made the decision to move out of their former residence, Adelaide Cottage, where they had lived with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—for several years, because they wanted to "start a new chapter" after Kate's cancer battle.

"Windsor has become their home. However, over the last few years, while they have lived at Adelaide Cottage, there have been some really difficult times," an insider said.

"Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter. It's an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind."

Kate announced that she had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer in March 2024, revealing at the time that she was undergoing chemotherapy—although she declined to share any other details about her illness.

In January 2025, she then announced that she was in remission, before opening up about the "really difficult" process of going through treatment and recovery.

"You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism, through treatment," she said during a July event at Colchester Hospital. "Treatment's done, and it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal again,' but actually that phase afterwards is a really difficult time.

"You're not able to function normally at home as you were perhaps once used to."

When the Princess of Wales was diagnosed, she and William had been living in Adelaide Cottage with their children for two years, having relocated to the property on the grounds of Windsor Castle from Kensington Palace in London.

It was said at the time that they had chosen to move from London to Windsor in a bid to enjoy more privacy, while also creating a more traditional lifestyle for their children to enjoy at home.

While they are understood to still love their life in Windsor, with their children all happily settled at the nearby Lambrook School, the couple was reportedly keen to start a new chapter in the wake of Kate's cancer battle—and felt that Forest Lodge was the perfect place for them to find a fresh slate.

According to reports, William, Kate, and their children moved into the home shortly before the Christmas holiday, with the princess revealing in December that she had been busy creating "mood boards" for the family's festive decor.

The duo is said to have funded the move privately and are paying market rent for the dwelling, which underwent a $2 million renovation back in 2001, before being put on the rental market for $20,300 a month.

Recent estimates put the value of the property at around $21.6 million.

It's not known exactly what William and Kate will be charged to lease the property; however, any work that is carried out on the home ahead of their move will be paid for by the couple and not the taxpayer.

Renovations are understood to be already underway on the opulent dwelling, which was originally built in the 1770s, before undergoing a sizable expansion in the early 1900s.

Redacted planning applications that were filed with the the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead—and approved earlier this month—show that the couple has been given permission to make minor changes to the interior and exterior, according to the BBC.

The plans also included the removal of a window and renovations to an existing fireplace.

The dwelling certainly offers much more space for the Wales family than their former home, which has just four bedrooms and offers far fewer luxury amenities than Forest Lodge, which features a ballroom and a tennis court on its lush grounds.

Images taken during the 2001 renovation show that extensive work was done to modernize the historic dwelling, which is a Grade II Listed Building.

This work included ripping up the floorboards in several rooms, although reports at the time noted that great care was being given to maintaining its "fine period detail."

Historic touches found in the property include original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling decoration, exquisite marble fireplaces, Venetian windows, and a half-barrel vaulted hallway ceiling.

Yet the couple do not plan to alter their current lifestyle after moving into the home, sources insist, noting that William and Kate will not hire any live-in staff, in keeping with their low-key approach to family life at Adelaide Cottage.

In addition to Forest Lodge, Kate and William also have their own property in Norfolk, Anmer Hall, which is located on the grounds of Sandringham and they primarily use as a summer and weekend retreat for their family.