The Princess of Wales is know to be a very hands-on mum to her three children - and royal expert Jennie Bond believes Kate has found a way to combine this with royal trips overseas10:48, 19 May 2026Updated 10:49, 19 May 2026Kate beams with children on outdoor assembly in Italian pre-schoolThe Princess of Wales charmed Italy as she returned to foreign royal tours for the first time in almost four years.‌Kate hugged children, cooed over smiley babies and even left teachers emotional as she visited Reggio Emilia on a fact-finding mission to learn about the city’s approach to raising young children as part of her ‘life’s work’ with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.‌The trip, her first overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment, meant time away from the sanctuary of her Forest Lodge home and children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.‌READ MORE: Prince William 'to sell off fifth of Duchy of Cornwall as he eyes up £500m move'READ MORE: JENNIE BOND: 'Kate Middleton hysteria is extraordinary - Palace will want one thing now'Kate is known to be a very hands-on mum to her children, doing the school run, being present at their sports matches and spending time with them out in nature without screens.However, she must juggle raising the trio alongside her early years passion project and royal duties on behalf of the King. In the past, Kate has been open about her ‘mum guilt’ when work sometimes gets in the way of her parenting duties.‌And royal expert Jennie Bond exclusively told the Mirror, this is why Kate’s trip was short and sharp and yet so impactful - something that is becoming a growing trend with royal visits .The former BBC royal correspondent explained: “She packed a lot into her two days, and this is increasingly the pattern of royal visits: short, sharp and busy. Maximum impact in a minimum number of days.“And that suits any working mum. We all suffer mum guilt, and Catherine is no exception. I think she’ll continue to prioritise her children’s needs for many years to come.”‌Kate previously opened up about her mum guilt back in one of her most candid chats to date on Giovanna Fletcher ’s podcast, Happy Mum, Happy Baby. When asked by the host if she had ever experienced it, she explained: “Yes absolutely - and anyone who doesn't as a mother is actually lying.“Even this morning, coming to the nursery visit here, George and Charlotte were like 'Mummy how could you possibly not be dropping us off as school this morning?'‌"It's a constant challenge - you hear it time after time from mums, even mums who aren't necessarily working and aren't pulled in the directions of having to juggle work life and family life."Kate’s children are growing up fast, with George becoming a teenager this summer and they may be coming an age where they understand their mums other responsibilities. Jennie added: “The children are now old enough to understand that she has an extremely important role in public life and there are duties that she is expected to undertake.“Trips like this one can be organised at a time when the Princess doesn’t have to miss out on things like sports days or other school events.‌“People might complain that she’s especially privileged to be able to do that, but most people know they will be able to retire one day. That is not the case for Catherine.”However, that won’t always be the case. There will be state occasions and public events which Catherine will be expected to attend and which may clash with the children’s diaries.‌“But that’s simply the nature of her job – and indeed it’s the sort of conflict that most of us can recognise. They are a strong and stable family unit – and that’s a great foundation for the Princess to build on as she slowly increases her work schedule.”But of course, after a difficult few years following her cancer treatment and subsequent recovery, Jennie believes Kate clearly couldn’t wait to get back out on her travels yet again.She added: “I think she relished it, not only because it’s a milestone in her continuing recovery, but because it’s focused on an issue that she cares about so passionately: the development of children in their first five years of life.‌“This trip was about much more than flying the flag for the UK and shaking lots of hands – it’s another stepping stone in her growing expertise in this subject.“So I think it would have felt to Catherine more like a working trip, similar to the ones she’s been carrying out in this country, than an official visit.”‌And even though Kate’s own children may not have been with her on her trip to Reggio Emilia last week, everywhere she turned, she was surrounded by little ones.The visit to the city in Northern Italy allowed Kate to learn about the ‘Reggio Emilia approach’ to early years care. It got off to an incredible start when more than 3,000 fans packed the city’s main square to welcome Kate with excited cheers and many handing her bouquets of flowers.She also bent down to speak to a group of school children, as the princess - who spent her gap year in Italy, conversed with the youngsters, showing off her skill of the Italian language. Kate said to the children in their native language: “I speak a bit of Italian. What is your name? I am Catarina.”‌While Kate later captured the attention of three-month-old baby Elena, who smiled sweetly at the princess, who tenderly stroked her feet.People shouted variations of her name - "Kate!" "Katie!" "Catherine!" and "I love you" - in an attempt to catch her attention, as she made her way down the lines of people posing for selfies."Buongiorno," she said, repeatedly. "Thank you so much." The Princess stopped to talk to a small group of teachers, telling them of the Reggio Emilia method: "Thank you for what you do. It's amazing here, isn't it?"‌She then rounded off her first day at the Anna Frank school (Scuola Comunale d’Infanzia), where she hugged children and left teachers emotional. She joined staff and students gathered outside for a group photograph, before excited youngsters swamped her with hugs and high-fives.Chanting the Italian word for “gift”, the princess was then presented with a white rose before two youngsters bravely went up to her and asked for one last hug, which Kate readily agreed to, prompting more of the group to toddle over to her.‌Her second day kicked off at the Salvador Allende pre-school, where youngster undertook their lessons outdoors. While sitting in the garden, Kate held a small newt in her hand, showing it to an excited young boy.She paid tribute to broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday saying: “In most urban areas, even in central London, we have newts like this. It’s extraordinary, if you look and spend time, you realise how close it is to you.“David Attenborough says you have to be able to experience nature in order to protect it – it’s so true.” She also joined in a series of art projects, including drawing plants and making tree roots out of clay.‌Afterwards she headed to the Remida centre, the home of a project that reuses industrial surplus supplies, where she revealed she follows the environmental philosophy of an unlikely figure from the green movement – Bob the Builder.Kate described how her family adhere to the tenets of the popular animated workman who believes in not letting anything go to waste,‌Speaking with a smile, the princess said: “There’s a popular character called Bob the Builder and he has a philosophy of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ and you embrace that here. It’s something as a mother, and I feel as a family we do a lot, is to try to have at the back of our minds.”Later in the day, she stopped by the Agriturismo Al Vigneto, a vineyard and farmhouse, to reflect on her experiences during the trip and celebrate the power of intergenerational connection.The princess joined the team at Al Vigneto in preparing tortelli, a typical pasta dish from the Emilia-Romagna region, to serve for lunch. Chef Ivan Lampredi praised the princess' skills as she made the dish, saying: "You are hired."‌Kate then sat down for lunch with some of the people she met over her two-day visit to thank them personally for their support and hospitality, before she waved farewell and concluded her whirlwind trip.At the end of her trip, Kate issued a heartfelt message on social media saying: “Over the past two days in Reggio Emilia, I have seen first-hand the power of nature and creativity that put human connection at the centre of a child’s world. “I have had such a deeply moving and unforgettable time here. Thank you to the people of Reggio Emilia for welcoming me into a culture of care with such warmth and generosity.Article continues below“Our collective work in early childhood must be to protect and nurture the connections that form the foundations of lifelong wellbeing. Grazie di cuore, C.”