The Princess of Wales helped prepare lunch and reflected on her Italy visit

Kate Middleton prepares lunch at rural Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Italy on May 14, 2026.Credit : Jordan Pettitt via Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate Middleton closed out her Italy trip by stepping behind the counter to make one of the region’s most beloved dishes.

For her final engagement in northern Italy on May 14, the Princess of Wales, 44, visited Agriturismo Al Vigneto in Parma, a rural farm stay where generations gather around food, nature and shared traditions, and helped prepare tortelli, a traditional pasta dish closely associated with the nearby city of Reggio Emilia. Set against the rolling countryside of Parma, the scene felt straight out of an Italian postcard.

During the outing, Princess Kate met local families and community members to hear how inter-generational bonds help support children as they grow, reinforcing one of the core ideas behind her work: that strong, nurturing relationships are central to healthy childhood development.

Kate Middleton prepares lunch at rural Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Italy on May 14, 2026.Phil Noble – Pool/Getty

The outing carried a personal touch. An experienced home cook herself, Kate rolled up her sleeves to help prepare lunch alongside the Agriturismo team.

The princess was joined by several of the educators, families, business leaders and community figures she had met throughout her two-day visit. The gathering served as both a reflection on the trip and a chance for Kate to thank those involved for welcoming her and sharing the philosophies that have made the region internationally admired for its approach to children and community.

Kate Middleton prepares lunch at rural Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Italy on May 14, 2026.Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Princess Kate visited Reggio Emilia for a busy trip that ran from Wednesday, May 13, to Thursday, May 14.

The visit was significant as her first international work trip since she announced her cancer diagnosis and treatment in March 2024. The Princess of Wales subsequently reduced her royal duties and shared that she was in remission in January 2025, resuming a fuller schedule of royal outings since.

Kate Middleton prepares lunch at rural Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Italy on May 14, 2026.Phil Noble – Pool/Getty

The princess traveled to Italy — where she studied abroad in 2000 before heading off to college — to highlight her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood as it expands internationally.

Princess Kate launched the center in June 2021 to take her longtime interest in the importance of children’s early years to the next level, and the trip built on the Shaping Us Framework unveiled in 2025.

Kate Middleton visits Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Italy on May 14, 2026.Phil Noble – Pool/Getty

Reggio Emilia is renowned for its approach to early childhood education, and Kate specifically visited as she explores leading international approaches to supporting young children and the adults who care for them.

The schedule of her stay included a welcome at Town Hall, a visit to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre (the hub of the Reggio Emilia Approach), stopping by two preschools and the REMIDA cultural project that convenes local groups to support early childhood education through the Reggio Emilia approach.

Princess Kate’s Italy visit was announced in early May, and her spokesperson said in a statement, “The Princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children’s development.”