Kate Middleton chose a strong yet soft look for her second and final day in Italy on Thursday. She also used her wardrobe to nod to her host country (would we expect anything less?)
The Princess of Wales built her neutral-tone outfit around an old favourite—a blazer from the Italian brand Blazé Milano, which she’s owned for several years.
She added a new belt from the same label, and a bracelet from Atelier Molayem, a small business in Milan. A clever bit of sartorial diplomacy: Wednesday’s outfit tipped its hat to British design, Thursday’s saluted Italy.
(As always, you’ll find the full run-through of the outfit—where each piece is from, what it costs and any clever symbolism worth unpacking—further down the post, after a recap of the day itself.)
The Princess spent two days in Reggio Emilia in her role as founder of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. You’ll probably remember that she launched the centre in 2021 to champion the importance of the earliest years of life.
The city is the birthplace of the Reggio Emilia Approach — a pioneering educational philosophy for the early years, built on the idea that young children are capable, curious individuals who learn best when they’re free to explore the world on their own terms.
Central to the approach is the belief that children express themselves in “a hundred languages” — not just words, but drawing, painting, sculpture, movement, music and storytelling — and that good early education means giving them the time, space and materials to use all of them.
Kensington Palace described the Italy trip as an international “fact-finding mission”—a chance to explore different approaches to supporting young children and their caregivers.
The trip is also a significant moment for Kate personally. It’s her first overseas working trip since her cancer treatment, and her first major foreign visit since travelling to Boston with William in December 2022.
The Princess began the day’s engagements at the Salvador Allende pre-school in the city, where she joined a class for their morning outdoor assembly.
The pre-school follows the Reggio Emilia ethos and puts nature at the forefront of education. Many activities take place outside and incorporate natural elements.
Kate also took part in an outdoor learning session involving painting, clay modelling, examining nature through a magnifying glass, and music-making.
At one point, she held a small lizard in her hand and mused about Sir David Attenborough:
The Princess told Stefano [a young boy]: “In most urban areas, even in central London, we have newts like this. It’s extraordinary, if you look and spend time, you realise how close it is to you. David Attenborough says you have to be able to experience nature in order to protect it – it’s so true.”
OK Magazine
At the end of the session, Kate posed for photos with the school’s staff and children. There were lots of enthusiastic hugs from the little ones, too.
Next, Kate visited REMIDA ‘Centro di Riciclaggio Creativo’, a creative recycling centre.
This remarkable facility is dedicated to reusing industrial surplus that would otherwise go to landfill.
Pre-school children attend the centre with their teachers and work on special projects using unwanted materials, including brightly-coloured wool, fabrics, textiles and large plastic tubes. Over 3,000 visitors attend workshops at the centre each year.
Remida aims to be a place of research for children, teachers, managers, students, professionals, and curious people. The visits and educational activities invite us to look at materials with a new perspective, investigate its expressive potential through a multisensory approach, discover more about the complex production ecosystem in the light of ecological thinking and the challenges of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ReggioChildren.it
During the visit, Kate spoke about the British cartoon character, ‘Bob the Builder’. In the TV show, he adheres to the Three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle, and his mantra is “Can we fix it?” The Princess said that at home, her family try to live by these same principles. It’s something that “we try to have at the back of our minds”, she said.
The third and final stop of the visit took place in the Parma hills. Lunch at Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Barbiano di Felino.
However, there was a catch. The Princess had to take on the role of rezdora—the traditional Emilian term for the lady of the house/pasta-maker. She got stuck in making fresh pasta (la sfoglia) by kneading the raw ingredients together. She spoke about making pasta at home, calling it “a good workout”.
The chef who guided the Princess through the process said he was impressed with her efforts and called her a natural. He joked that she was “hired”.
The Princess did not dine alone—she invited some of the people she’d met during the trip to Reggio Emilia, including representatives from the schools, centres and pre-schools that she visited over the two days.
Carla Nironi, 86, who worked for the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach, was among the guests and said: ‘She is a wonderful person.’
‘If I think about the other members of the royal family, I think Catherine is a step ahead of them.’
Independent
Finally, Kate departed Italy at Parma airport for a flight back to the UK.
We’re told to expect more overseas trips this year as the Princess wants to learn more about different approaches to education and see them in action, plus take her foundation to an international stage.
Let’s look at what she wore.
Kate’s Day Two Look:
After Wednesday’s cornflower blue tailoring, on Thursday, the Princess opted for a different colour palette: warm beige and cream tones.
She paired a structured blazer with a floaty pleated skirt—a nice change after Wednesday’s tailored suit (shown below).
The pleated skirt and blazer combination is one of Kate’s favourite outfit formulas. The skirt softens the blazer and keeps the outfit feeling fresh and easy.
Kate looked unmistakably ‘here on official business as a royal and a UK representative‘, but with a soft, approachable, and child-friendly edge.
Let’s start with the hero piece—the lovely pinstripe blazer. It’s by Blazé Milano, which is, of course, an Italian brand, based in Milan.
The Princess specifically wore the company’s ‘Wind Hunter Charmer’ Pinstriped Blazer. It’s a soft, neutral piece tailored from sand grain de poudre woven with silk and linen.
It features cream pinstripes and is finished with a double-breasted front, Blazé Milano’s signature ‘smiley’ curved pockets and pretty knotted buttons. It originally retailed at £1,910. 20% of the profits from the jacket were donated to the Italian Red Cross.
Kate debuted the blazer during a family visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo in July 2023.
She wore it again in a photograph that accompanied a statement updating the public on her health in June 2024.
Then last year, in July 2025, Kate brought it back for a visit to Colchester Hospital’s Cancer Wellbeing Centre, where she spoke about her own cancer journey.
There’s something quite lovely about seeing the blazer come full circle, seeing her wear it during her first major overseas engagement since her diagnosis and treatment.
The blazer is, unfortunately, sold out everywhere as it is from a past season. But if you love the look, Net-a-Porter currently stocks Blazé Milano’s ‘Serene Everyday’ Double-Breasted Striped Blazer in canvas—a similar silhouette in a slightly cooler colourway. See below:
They also stock a range of other colours and fabrics, if the neutral canvas is not for you.
Kate also debuted a new belt that cinched her ensemble at the waist—another Blazé Milano piece, the Viva Nal suede belt in light brown. It’s a chic, very Italian flourish that ties the look together.
It’s slim (just 2.5cm wide), made in Italy from smooth brown suede, and is finished with a curved tortoiseshell buckle. According to Net-a-Porter, the curve of that buckle is a deliberate nod to the brand’s signature ‘Smiley’ pockets.
The belt retails at $460 (around £345) and is currently available at Net-a-Porter.
(With thanks to MiddletonMaven for the ID, and to magazine233 on Instagram, who originally spotted it.)
Blazé Milano is an Italian label founded in 2013 by three friends — Corrada Rodriguez D’Acri, Delfina Pinardi and Maria Sole Torlonia—who met through Italian Elle and went from working as stylists in the world of luxury fashion to launching their own brand. Their mission was to reinvent the classic blazer for modern women. The label is known for its sharp tailoring, luxurious fabrics and signature arched ‘Smiley’ pockets. The Princess also owns one of the brand’s beautiful full-length coats in a rich brown check.
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you anything about Kate’s simple white top. The piece is yet to be identified. I’ll update this section if I get a confirmed ID.
I can tell you about Kate’s skirt, though— this is a new addition to her wardrobe. The ivory-coloured pleated maxi is by Jenni Kayne.
The classic accordion-pleat maxi skirt is crafted from a soft, fluid fabric (polyester) and features an elasticated waistband in contrasting black.
The skirt retails for $395 in the USA at Bloomingdale’s and £325 in the UK, where it’s available at Selfridges.
Jenni Kayne is a Los Angeles-based brand founded in 2003 by designer Jenni Kayne herself. The label has built a loyal following for its quietly elegant essentials.
This is the first time Kate has worn the label in public, which has, of course, set my spidey senses tingling. There are rumours circling that William and Kate might visit the USA in July to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Of course, I’m now thinking that Kate might attend with William and slot in a few early-years engagements with her Centre too. The palace has already confirmed that Kate intends to visit more countries this year. Is that why she’s wearing an American brand in Italy? Has she been researching American designers and found this skirt? I am aware this sounds like a reach, but it’s happened before…!
In March 2017, the Princess debuted a green leather clutch at the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks. It was from a Polish brand called Etui. A month later, she carried a second bag from the brand at an Easter service. Skip forward a few more months, and she debuted a third bag from the company—this time actually during a visit to Poland (pictured above). At the time, I was convinced this was no coincidence and thought the then-Duchess of Cambridge probably bought the bags while researching/curating looks for the Poland trip. Solid theory, right?
OK, let’s move on and look at Kate’s jewellery. The Princess debuted a rather interesting new piece during the visit, a fabric floral bracelet by Atelier Molayem, a small Milan-based jewellery brand.
It’s one of the more affordable pieces of jewellery she’s worn to date, as it retails for just €10 (around £8.50 GBP / $12 USD).
The bracelet is made from Liberty fabric in a multicoloured floral print and is threaded with small 9ct gold metal beads stamped with her children’s initials: G, C, L. It’s from the company’s ABC collection.
The bracelet wraps around the wrist and ties with a bow.
I love how this little bracelet is a marriage of British and Italian, much like Kate’s suit yesterday—crafted in the UK from Italian fabric. This time it’s the other way round, The Italian company, Atelier Molayem, have used Liberty floral cotton, an iconic and distinctly British fabric with a long history.
The bracelet is available directly from Atelier Molayem. (Though the link doesn’t work for me, it just redirects back to the homepage. Let me know if you have more success.)
(With thanks to Emily Ferguson at the Daily Mirror for the original ID.)
Kate’s matching jewellery set is a repeat wear from her personal collection—earrings and a necklace by British jeweller Kiki McDonough.
The Princess wore the jeweller’s Candy Green Amethyst and Diamond Pendant Necklace (£2,500) on a delicate yellow gold chain, paired with the matching Candy Green Amethyst and Diamond Earrings (£3,200).
Both items feature pear-cut pale green amethyst stones that are topped with a cluster of small diamonds.
Kate has owned the green amethyst ‘Candy’ set since at least 2019. She debuted both pieces during a royal visit to Northern Ireland in February of that year. We saw her wear the items a few times in 2019—but not since, making this a rare sighting seven years on. (It’s nice to see them again, they’re beautiful.)
The jewellery set is a nice British flourish on top of an otherwise Italian-leaning outfit. Kiki McDonough is a London-based jeweller who founded her eponymous brand in 1985, and Kate has been one of her most consistent customers for well over a decade.
Both pieces are still available directly from Kiki McDonough’s website.
And let’s finish with Kate’s flats—a sensible choice for a long day of engagements. They’re by British designer Camilla Elphick.
The Princess wore the ‘Alicia’ Slingback Flats in taupe and black. They’re a beautiful two-tone slingback crafted from nude calf leather. They feature a contrasting black pointed cap toe and are finished with Elphick’s signature pearl-cluster buckle on the heel strap.
Kate first wore the shoes to the Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2022 and again to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022.
The shoes originally retailed at £270—though sadly, they’re no longer available to buy. The Camilla Elphick brand went into liquidation in July 2025, and the company is due to be formally dissolved later this year. It’s a sad loss for British footwear design!
That’s all from Italy! Which look was your favourite—day one or day two? Which would you rather wear? Share your reasons why in the comments below.
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