Kate Middleton visited Reggio Emilia, Italy, on Tuesday afternoon and, within minutes, dropped to her knees to greet children there. There were no cameras directing the moment and no palace aides adjusting her posture, but she spotted a group of small children waiting in the Piazza Camillo Prampolini and bent down to their eye level with a wide smile. For a royal to show this gesture is rare, with many deeming her the “Children’s princess.”
Kate Middleton kneels while greeting children with bright smile in Italy
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s official Instagram account posted a photo of Kate Middleton greeting children in Italy, showing the future queen on her knees on the cobblestones, in her pantsuit. She looks calm and does not appear to be in a hurry as she speaks to little kids.
The caption read, “Arriving in Reggio Emilia, a city shaped by its belief in children and in the environments, relationships and connections that help them thrive in their early years.” Moreover, it continued, “Meeting local families, educators, and community members whose shared care for early childhood continues to shape everyday life here.”
What followed online was an outpouring of affection, with one user writing, “I love that you use your huge platform to help kids! You truly are the one and only Children’s Princess!! And it was beautiful to see the warm welcome you received there.” Another added, “Catherine’s reception in Italy speaks volumes about the kind of woman she is, graceful, dignified, compassionate, honourable, authentic and effortlessly elegant.”
The simple gesture touched hearts. A fan wrote, “Those children will be talking about this day 50 years from now,” while another echoed the sentiment, saying, “She is so elegant and a class act! She had a rough few years and I wish her all the best for the future.”
The visit marks Kate Middleton’s first official overseas trip in a while, and she chose to spend it studying the Reggio Emilia Approach in Italy, but it was her squatting on the road to greet children that left everyone in awe.
