The Princess of Wales has been hailed as the Royal Family's "secret weapon" by a royal commentator, ahead of her upcoming trip to Italy this week.
When Catherine touches down in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday, it will mark the start of her first overseas royal tour since she visited Boston with husband Prince William for the Earthshot Prize in December 2022.
Since that trip to the United States, the princess has undergone major abdominal surgery, a cancer diagnosis, treatment and remission.
But the princess's return to the international fold will look a little different to her trip to Boston: this time, she's going solo.
Her last individual trip was to Copenhagen earlier in 2022 - another "fact-finding" visit focused on early childhood development - but this visit comes with huge significance, given Catherine's personal journey over the last three years.
Royal commentator Rafe Haydel-Mankoo says Catherine's Italian trip is an "important milestone" that "signifies her ongoing recovery" - but that the symbolism of her embarking on such a trip on her own cannot be understated.
"I think undertaking that on her own, really underscores the point of her in a renewed strength and also more importantly, of her value to the monarchy and her ability to conduct such activities," he told GB News.
"She is the secret weapon of the Royal Family, and I think her cancer diagnosis and her treatment humanised her in a way very few other royal experiences ever could."
Catherine's Italy trip marks first overseas Royal Tour since she visited Boston with husband Prince William for the Earthshot Prize in December 2022
|PA
She last flew solo on a similar trip to Copenhagen earlier in 2022, where she met then-Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
|PA
Mr Haydel-Mankoo argues that much of the public could now see Catherine as "not just a future queen, but also as a wife, a mother, and a woman who has had great difficulty, but has seen it all with grace and dignity."
"And now by stepping back onto the international stage, I think she's sending a message of quiet strength and resilience and continuity," he added.
He claimed that the Princess of Wales's upcoming solo trip "reassures the public that she is resuming her role at the heart of his children, and she is entirely capable and independent of carrying on these duties."
With Catherine due to embark on her trip tomorrow for two days, attention will turn to when the Waleses will next go overseas together.
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Mr Haydel-Mankoo argues that much of the public could now see Catherine as 'not just a future queen, but also was a wife, a mother, and a woman who has had great difficulty, but has seen it all with grace and dignity'
| REUTERSMr Haydel-Mankoo suggests this could come as early as next month, with William expected to follow in his father's very recent footsteps and make the transatlantic trip to the US to watch the World Cup, hosted in America, Canada and Mexico.
"As her royal highness's strength improves, she knows full well that she needs to play a full part in putting her back to the wheel," Mr Haydel-Mankoo said, indicating the public could see both William and Catherine overseas together in the near future.
Fellow commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who also suggested that the princess could travel with her husband to the US next month, believes that a trip to India is "a possibility".
She last visited India in 2016 with William, when the pair toured the infamous Taj Mahal.
However, he was keen to stress the meaning and significance of Catherine's trip to Reggio Emilia, describing it as "a new normal" as she continues her recovery.
"[The Italy trip] is terribly personally important because it shows, not only she's got stronger, but also, there's one thing getting stronger when you've been ill, but it takes time to build up your confidence, and this clearly sends a sign that there'll be more of this," he told The People's Channel.
"William was saying this a while back that he expected further trips - obviously, this is something that is terribly valuable."
The Princess of Wales kicks off her two-day Italy visit on May 13.
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