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, appeared in Reggio Emilia where she is visited the Salvador Allende pre-school, spending time with young children learning outdoors and meeting educators whose passion for nature helped shape the innovative design of the nursery.

The future Queen’s return to the international stage has already sparked huge excitement across Italy, after she was greeted by roaring crowds and cheering well-wishers during yesterday’s landmark arrival in the city. For today’s engagement, Catherine is expected to continue shining a spotlight on the importance of children’s earliest years, and the impact environment, creativity and education can have on a child’s long-term development.

The Princess has made early childhood one of the defining pillars of her royal work in recent years through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Her visit to Reggio Emilia has been widely viewed as one of the most significant moments in her gradual return to public duty.

The Salvador Allende pre-school is internationally recognised for its child-centred educational philosophy, with a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, creativity and allowing children to explore the natural world from an early age.

During the visit, she was snapped spending time observing children taking part in outdoor activities while speaking with teachers and education leaders about the school’s unique approach.

Later in the day, the Princess will also visit Remida - the city’s renowned “creative recycling centre” - where she will meet local business leaders who support early years education by donating materials used within pre-schools and nurseries across the region.

The initiative is designed to encourage creativity and sustainability among young children, while helping educators create stimulating learning environments through recycled and repurposed objects.

Catherine is also expected to undertake a further community-focused engagement before concluding the second day of her visit.

The Princess received an overwhelmingly warm welcome upon arriving in Italy yesterday, with crowds gathering in their thousands across Reggio Emilia hoping to catch a glimpse of the future Queen. Well-wishers lined the streets waving Union Jack flags, applauding and cheering as Catherine arrived for her first solo overseas engagement in more than four years.

At several moments during the walkabout, the Princess was seen stopping to greet members of the public and bending down to speak with young children gathered near the barriers - scenes that quickly sparked praise across social media.

For her arrival in Italy, Catherine opted for a commanding powder blue tailored suit by Edeline Lee, paired with a soft white blouse and Monica Vinader pearl jewellery. Royal fans and fashion watchers were quick to praise the polished yet understated ensemble, with many describing the Princess as looking “elegant”, “radiant” and firmly “back”.