Kate Middleton walked into a sunlit atelier in northern Italy on Tuesday morning and left quite an impression, the kind that has nothing to do with her title. The educators who met the Princess of Wales say that she showed up with curiosity and warmth. Meanwhile, she also exhibited a genuine desire to listen.
Middleton’s visit to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia marked her first solo overseas work trip since 2023, and those on the ground claim that she made every moment count.
Kate Middleton asked ‘beautiful questions’ at Loris Malaguzzi center in Italy, claims expert
Marco Spaggiari, a specialist artist-educator at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Italy, described Kate Middleton to PEOPLE as a kind of royal who arrived with a simple “Buongiorno” and immediately shook his hand, noting that the gesture “impressed” him.
Spaggiari continued, “She asked a lot of beautiful questions about the organization and the materials,” adding that she showed interest “in how many people come to the atelier.” He also explained, “A lot of people from across the world come here to learn how to work with children,” highlighting that Middleton’s “humanity” as well as “the capacity she has to understand what we are saying” charmed him. Besides, he claimed that their conversation was easy.
Middleton had a hands-on session with clay, rolling balls, and coils beside the educators, with Spaggiari claiming she did not want to stop. In that, he told PEOPLE, “She said she wanted to stay with us for another hour,” and that “It was amazing” how “She was playing a lot and learning a lot.”
Norma Guinto, President of RedSOLARE Mexico, chimed in, claiming that Middleton “was very interested in learning about the Reggio Emilia Approach that has inspired us,” allegedly with a desire “to know how we can bring this philosophy this pedology to our country.”
In Italy, Guinto presented Kate Middleton with a rebozo, a traditional Mexican shawl that symbolizes motherhood and caring for children, and said, “Being the person she is, she can influence education around the world to benefit children from different backgrounds.”
