Prince William has revealed Kate came back ‘buzzing’ from her trip to Italy – as he described his wife as an ‘amazing mum his family couldn’t cope without’.
The royal said Princess Catherine had been looking forward to her first engagement abroad since her cancer diagnosis in 2024, adding that he was ‘so proud of her’.
The Prince of Wales was speaking to Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakson on Heart Breakfast this morning during his visit to the Isles of Scilly.
He is on the island to officially open a new wing at a hospital in St Mary’s, which aims to improve access to healthcare in the area.
Speaking about his wife, Kate, Prince William said: ‘I’m so proud. I’m very very proud. She has been amazing.
‘She has been through so much in the past couple of years particularly.
‘She had been looking forward to the Italian trip a lot so I’m really glad that it went well.
Prince William said Catherine is a meticulous planner, who ensures she is fully read up on all the paperwork before going on any trip.
The Prince of Wales was speaking to Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakson on Heart Breakfast this morning during his visit to the Isles of Scilly
The Princess of Wales is pictured on her trip to Italy last week – her first engagement abroad since her cancer diagnosis
The Duke of Cornwall appears on the Heart Breakfast radio show with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston
He said: ‘She wanted to go and do a lot of research. She spends god knows how much time now looking through all the paperwork.
‘She is a proper pro on early years and so most evenings I’m fighting to get past all the paperwork in the bedroom that she has lined up ready to read.
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‘So I’m so glad it went well for her. I think she came back buzzing.
‘She is an amazing mum and an amazing wife and our family couldn’t cope without her so she has been absolutely stunning.’
Prince William hinted that Kate is looking forward to doing more and more trips abroad going forward.
He added: ‘They take a lot out of you so we have to balance that and make sure she is well rested but she is in good form.’
Prince William also spoke fondly of his time spent on the Isles of Scilly as a child.
He told Amanda and Jamie: ‘I used to come here [Isles of Scilly] a lot when I was younger – it is as you can see a place like no other.
‘It is like a different world down here – it is beautiful.’
‘The children can go where they want here. It is safe. They can go out and explore.’
During her visit to Italy, Kate charmed fans as she put her pasta making skills to the test.
She kneaded flour, oil, salt and water in a large bowl with her hands as she helped chef Ivan Lampredi make some tortelli – a type of stuffed pasta.
Prince William breaks ground for the new facility during a visit to St Mary’s Community Hospital last May in the Isles of Scilly
The Princess of Wales helps prepare food at rural Agriturismo ‘Al Vigneto’ in Felino, Italy last week
The Prince of Wales visits the Isles of Scilly today after appearing on the radio where he spoke about Kate
The Princess of Wales then rolled her pasta through the machine, and laughed when the handle fell off by accident.
‘Is there a technique for this?’ she asked.
Kate was visiting Agriturismo Al Vigneto, a farm-stay vineyard and farmhouse in the hills, an hour’s drive outside the city of Reggio Emilia.
Signor Lampredi showed her his technique for perfecting the stuffed-pasta delicacy, which looks similar to ravioli.
Then Catherine piped a filling of fresh ricotta, spinach and parmesan cheese onto her pasta sheet and used a special tool to crimp the edges.
Earlier in the trip, Kate was also mobbed by young children on a visit to an Italian pre-school where she spent the morning with them exploring nature in the grounds.
Kate, who introduced herself as ‘Caterina’, was hugged and held onto by the children after posing for a group photograph with pupils and staff at the Salvador Allende pre-school on the outskirts of Reggio Emilia.
The Princess of Wales on her visit to ‘Salvador Allende’ Scuola dell’infanzia in Reggio Emilia
Wearing a blazer by Italian brand Blaize Milano and a fabric bracelet by Atelier Malayan, a small label based in Milan, the princess practised her Italian with children aged three to six and joined them for activities including handling newts from the pond, rolling ‘tree roots’ from clay and marvelling at the school’s peaceful outdoor setting.
Although the visit had not been announced in advance, several hundred people had gathered in the street opposite the school and began the chant of ‘Kate, Kate, Kate!’ and ‘Kate, we love you!’ as she arrived.
She was welcomed to the pre-school’s outdoor assembly area, taking a seat on a tree stump and saying: ‘Ciao a tutti!’ (Hello everybody) as the children introduced themselves to her one by one.
