Princess Kate RECAP: Royal hails legendary TV presenter during second day of Italy tour

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The princess rounded off her Italian tour by masterfully rolling fresh pasta hand.With help from chef Ivan Lampredi, she made some tortelli, a typical dish from the Emilia-Romagna region.Catherine kneaded flour, oil, salt and water in a large bowl with her hands, and said: “When I do this at home it’s without a big bowl and it goes everywhere.” She added: “It’s a good work-out.”She rolled her pasta through the machine, and laughed when the handle fell off by accident.Catherine then piped a filling of fresh ricotta, spinach and parmesan cheese onto her pasta sheet and used a special tool to crimp the edges.Signor Lampredi, 49, who has been a chef for 30 years, told her: “You are hired.”The princess was visiting Agriturismo Al Vigneto, a farm-stay vineyard and farmhouse in the hills, an hour’s drive outside the city of Reggio Emilia where she was joined by some of the people she has met over her two-day visit.Aides said Catherine had wanted to thank them personally for their support and hospitality, and to acknowledge the role they play in sustaining a culture of care.They sat down for a lunch of local produce including charcuterie, fried tart, Parma ham and parmesan cheese, washed down with Lambrusco and Malvasia white wine.Sharing a message on social media last night, the princess said: “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.“Our collective work in early childhood must be to protect and nurture the connections that form the foundations of life-long wellbeing. Grazie di cuore (thank you from the heart). C.”

Princess Catherine stepped out in Reggio Emilia today to visit the Salvador Allende pre-school, where she spent time with young children learning outdoors.

But it was Catherine’s carefully curated wardrobe choice that truly sparked a royal frenzy.

Princess Catherine was given a sweet nickname by fans after she began her royal tour in Italy on Wednesday.

The Princess of Wales was met with cheers as she arrived in Reggio Emilia yesterday to learn all about an innovative approach to early years teaching.

Arriving at her next engagement almost 30 minutes later than planned, Catherine said the centre where businesses donate material to help pre-school children with creative play reminded her of the children’s cartoon, Bob the Builder.Visiting the Remida centre on her second day in Italy, she 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 try to have at the back of our minds.”The Remida centre is a resource hub where teachers can bring pre-school children to work on special projects designed to boost their learning through creativity.Unwanted materials, including brightly-coloured wool, string, textiles and larger plastic tubes are brought to the centre after being donated by companies, including Tetra Pak.The children are then invited to use materials in workshops run at the centre, which receives more than 3,000 visitors a year, including educators and teachers from around the world.Walking around the centre, Catherine remarked that “it feels like a museum”.She then went over to a play space where pre-school children were playing with pieces of fabric and balancing on a large section of corrugated plastic tubing.Catherine laughed and held the hands of two girls who were wobbling as they attempting to walk along the tube.When she left, she was given a gift of swatches of fabric from the staff. She said: "Thank you. It's a reminder of my time here."

The Princess of Wales handled a newt, examined the grass with a magnifying glass and made tree roots from clay as she immersed herself in the practices of an Italian preschool.Catherine was invited to join a group of youngsters sitting on tree stumps outside as they decided what activities to do during assembly."Ciao a tutti!" (Hello everybody), she said, as the children introduced themselves to her one by one.The group then told her about the outdoor space and what they like to do. Told the children wanted to spend the day having fun with her, she replied: “Perfetto!”The princess was led to the pond where Stefano Sturloni, atelierista for gardens and nature at the city's Preschools and Infant-toddler Centres Institution, showed them a tank containing newts.She bent down and was happy to handle one of the salamanders and told them: "David Attenborough says you have to be able to experience nature in order to protect it - it's so true."Commenting on two young girls who were painting the garden, she asked: "Posso vedere? Wow! Bellissima!" (Can I see? Very beautiful!).She spent some time looking at the grasses through a magnifying glass and encouraging the children to do the same before joining another group who were modelling tree roots from clay to add to a display around a nearby living tree.Catherine stopped to play some outdoor instruments with another group, including one girl in a wheelchair, who is hard of hearing, but can enjoy sound through vibrations.Outside, she met parents and grandparents who volunteer at the on-site allotments, then joined pupils and staff, including the school's cooks for a lively group photograph.The group were reluctant to let her leave, and children moved in for hugs and adults for selfies.

Princess Catherine appeared to pay a subtle tribute to Princess Diana during her landmark visit to Italy on Wednesday, stepping out in a commanding powder blue tailored suit that echoed one of the late royal’s most memorable fashion moments from the 90's.

The Princess of Wales, 44, arrived in Reggio Emilia for the start of her hugely significant two-day overseas visit centred around her Early Years campaign, where crowds gathered in their thousands to welcome the future Queen.

Princess Catherine has spoken of a sweet pastime that she shared with her children during the Coronavirus lockdown.

The 44-year-old is currently in Northern Italy for a two-day visit on behalf of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

The Princess of Wales received loud cheers as she kickstarted the second day of her trip to Italy this morning.Arriving at the public infant-toddler centre and nursery school in Reggio Emilia near Bologna to scores of wellwishers, Catherine waved before entering the school as part of a fact-finding mission.She toured the public infant-toddler centre and nursery school in Reggio Emilia, near Bologna, to learn more about an innovative approach to teaching young children developed in the country.Known as the Reggio Emilia Approach, after the city that pioneered the teaching method, it is recognised across the globe and stresses the importance of parents, educators and the environment, “the third teacher”, that surround a child.Salvador Allende Scuola dell’infanzia teaches children aged up to six and forms part of Reggio Emilia’s renowned municipal educational system.The school places particular emphasis on outdoor learning and environmental education, including a garden with features like a willow tree and a bamboo forest.Every morning the children sit around a table and decide what they will do today, an example of the philosophy’s child-led approach.Catherine spent time with children learning outdoors and met the educators whose commitment to nature shapes the design and ethos of the school.

Princess Catherine has wowed royal fans across the globe this week as she kick-started her royal trip to Italy on Wednesday. 

The Princess of Wales, who hasn’t carried out a royal trip overseas for quite some time as a result of her cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2024, has been all smiles on her tour so far, with the second day of engagements set to be underway within a few hours.

Princess Catherine put her best fashion foot forward once again as she stepped out in Italy today for the second day of her hugely significant overseas visit centred around her Early Years work.

The Princess of Wales, 44, beamed with delight as she appeared in a radiant look.

Good morning from London. Royal reporter Lauren Welch here and I'll be bringing you all the latest news on Princess Catherine's second and final day in Italy.

Email: lauren.welch@reachplc.com