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Royal engagements and overseas tours are usually organised down to the smallest detail, with carefully prepared schedules determining almost every moment of the day. Yet even the most meticulous planning cannot account for everything, and unexpected situations can sometimes create the most memorable royal moments.
That proved to be the case during Princess Catherine’s visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, in May this year, when events took an unplanned turn despite the carefully arranged itinerary.
The Princess’s two-day visit largely centred on educational institutions, reflecting her long-standing interest in early childhood development. However, the itinerary also included a more relaxed culinary experience when she travelled to Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’, a countryside farm stay in Parma, for a traditional pasta-making workshop.
During the session, local chef Signor Lampredi guided Catherine through the process of preparing tortelli, a filled pasta speciality closely associated with the region.
As Catherine prepared to roll out the pasta dough, she reached for the pasta machine but accidentally sent its handle tumbling to the floor. Reacting to the mishap with amusement, the Princess exclaimed, “Whoops!” before laughing and joking: “I’ve broken it!”
Fortunately, Signor Lampredi immediately stepped in to retrieve the fallen handle. Sharing in the light-hearted moment, the chef laughed as he quickly fitted it back onto the machine so the pasta-making session could continue.
Catherine quickly returned her attention to the task, carefully piping the filling onto the freshly rolled pasta before using a cutter to shape it into individual pieces.
Clearly impressed by her efforts, the chef ended the lesson on a playful note, joking: “You are hired!”
Reflecting on the two-day visit in a post shared on Instagram, the 44-year-old Princess described the experience as both emotional and memorable, highlighting what she had learned about the importance of nature, creativity and human connection in children’s lives.
She wrote: “Over the past two days in Reggio Emilia, I have seen firsthand 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.”
Catherine concluded her message by emphasising the shared responsibility of supporting the relationships and connections established during a child’s earliest years.
She added: “Our collective work in early childhood must be to protect and nurture the connections that form the foundations of lifelong well-being. Grazie di cuore, C.”
The Italian phrase she used to sign off, “Grazie di cuore,” translates as “thank you from the heart.”
Princеss Kate’s pleа
The visit carried particular emotional significance for Princess Catherine, marking her first overseas engagement in several years following her cancer diagnosis. After returning from the trip, she reflected on the experience in a deeply personal essay.
Recalling a recent conversation with another parent at her children’s school, Catherine wrote: “Last week, a parent at my children’s school asked me if we could all do just one thing, what would it be? My answer is simple: to prioritise love.”
Catherine went on to explain that the kind of love she was referring to was not about grand displays of affection or romantic gestures. Instead, she described something far simpler and more enduring — a love expressed through patience, time and the small moments that make everyday life meaningful.
“I’m not talking about overly sentimental and romantic gestures, but love that is quiet and unconditional, built on time and patience: the joy found in ordinary things; the everyday magic of life itself.”
Her cоnnection to early yеars
Since 2020, supporting children’s early development has become one of the central themes of Catherine’s work within the royal family. Her commitment to the issue took another major step forward in 2021 with the launch of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
The initiative is dedicated to expanding research into the early years, developing practical solutions and leading campaigns designed to increase public understanding of how crucial this stage of childhood is.
Catherine has previously explained that her passion for the early years developed gradually through her royal work, particularly after meeting people experiencing addiction and mental health difficulties.
She said her interest grew “right from the early days, meeting lots of people who are suffering with addiction or poor mental health, and hearing time and time again that their troubles now in adulthood stem right back from early childhood experience”.
