The Princess of Wales spoke Italian with young children on her first major royal tour in more than three years.

Footage showed Kate speaking with pre-school children at the Piazza Camillo Prampolini in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday (13 May), where she introduced herself as “Catarina.”

“Parlo un po’ d’italiano,” – I speak a little Italian – she said, before asking their names.

Alice, five, said afterwards: “She asked my name in Italian. She spoke Italian very well.”

During her trip, Kate was presented with the Primo Tricolore, the highest honour from the city, in recognition of her work at the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.