The Princess of Wales is widening her work to build a global conversation around her mission for children

Prince William on “Heart Breakfast” on May 22, 2026; Kate Middleton at Charing Cross Hospital in London on January 8, 2026.Credit : Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace; Isabel Infantes – WPA Pool/Getty

Kate Middleton has a proud husband in Prince William as she looks ahead in her mission to help children.

After a successful visit to the city of Reggio Emilia, in Italy, the Princess of Wales, 44, hopes to widen the impact and the experience of her help for the youngest children as she creates a global conversation around the issue.

Prince William, 43, confirmed during a recent interview with the U.K.’s Heart Breakfast that his wife was “just sort of edging herself back into doing more and more of those trips.” He added that they have to be careful to manage things in light of her recovery from the cancer treatment she revealed she was undergoing in March 2024 (the Princess of Wales announced with “relief” that she was in remission in January 2025).

“She’s been amazing. She’s been through so much in the last couple of years, particularly,” William told cohosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston. “She’d been looking forward to the Italian trip a lot, and so I’m really glad it went really well.”

William added that the family will have to continue managing the workload of visits like that, saying “away trips like that take a lot out of you…so we have to balance that, make sure she’s okay and rested. But she’s in good form.”

Princess Kate enjoying meeting a baby in the crowd in Reggio Emilia, Italy on May 13, 2026.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The trip to Italy was “about maintaining balance while returning to a broader program of activity,” an aide has told PEOPLE. “The visit reflects that steady progression.”

The mission for the under-fives and those who raise and care for them has been a central part of Princess Kate’s public work for more than a decade, and she has set up the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to funnel those ideas and her work. As she builds her knowledge, Prince William said that he has to pick his way past her reading and paperwork, as he called her a “proper pro” in the subject.

“She spends, God knows how much time now, looking through all the paperwork,” he said. “She’s a proper pro on early years. Most evenings I’m fighting to get past in the bedroom, what paperwork that she’s got lined up, ready to read.”

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 8, 2026.Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

A palace aide explains to PEOPLE that the visit to Italy was a “clear moment of progression” of the “work moving beyond a U.K. focus and beginning to engage more actively with international thinking and practice.”

“Over the past few years, the princess has concentrated on building a strong evidence base and practical programs at home, and this now creates the opportunity to look outward. It is less about a shift in direction and more about an evolution, connecting that work with global expertise and placing early childhood firmly within a shared international conversation,” they say.

The source adds, “There is a recognition that the challenges and opportunities in early childhood are not confined to one country. They are universal. The intention is not to position it as a personal project on a global stage, but rather to contribute to and learn from a wider body of knowledge. There is a natural alignment with other countries that are also prioritizing these early years.”

Kate Middleton waves next to Reggio Emilia Mayor Marco Massari as she arrives at the city hall on the first day of her visit to Reggio Emilia on May 13, 2026 in Reggio Emilia, Italy.Phil Noble – Pool/Getty

Christian Guy, executive director of Kate’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, told PEOPLE that the visit to Reggio Emilia “is the start of the princess and the Centre leading a global conversation about how the first five years of life give us that chance to get ahead of some of the toughest social challenges we face around the world.”

Speaking as Princess Kate ended her second day, in which she spent time with some children outside in their school garden, Guy explained, “This morning, the princess was in her element in nature, seeing the power of the outdoors. She has spoken about how important that’s been for her. But what the science shows is how crucial that is to help children flourish and thrive and to nurture the skills they need. Seeing her in the garden today, I can tell it is something that will stay with her for a very long time.”

Kate Middleton meets children as she visits the Salvador Allende preschool in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on May 14, 2026.Antonio Calanni / POOL / AFP via Getty

During the trip, there was no doubt among those who met her that the Princess of Wales’ expertise in the sector shone through. Before she left, the royal was introduced to a group of women who’ve taken the philosophy across the world to South America.

Norma Guinto, President of RedSOLARE Mexico, says, “She was very interested in learning about the Reggio Emilia Approach that has inspired us. We have been coming here for many years. She wanted to know how we bring this philosophy this pedology to our country and the changes we have seen in our educational system in bringing this new way of teaching and learning.”

Guinto adds, “Being the person she is, she can influence education around the world to benefit children from different backgrounds. We need that in this moment of our history for humanity.”

A teacher from the city, Sara Montanini, met Kate and added, “When she started her early childhood project, I always thought that sooner or later she would come here because it’s been a staple in our community since the Second World War. I can see why she came to Reggio Emilia because her vision is so similar to ours.”

SOURCE: https://people.com/kate-middleton-proper-pro-children-mission-prince-william-says-11982365