The Princess of Wales has revealed an unexpected source of environmental inspiration, citing the popular children's character Bob the Builder.
Kate explained that her family adheres to the animated workman's philosophy of not letting anything go to waste.
During a visit to an Italian project dedicated to re-using industrial surplus, the Princess discussed the principles at the Remida centre in Reggio Emilia.
She said: "There’s a popular character called Bob the Builder and he has a philosophy of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ and you embrace that here. It’s something as a mother, and I feel as a family we do a lot, is try to have at the back of our minds."
The princess travelled to Italy to learn about Reggio Emilia’s world-renowned education programme for young children that stresses the importance of parents, educators and the environment – “the third teacher” – that surround a child.
She began her day visiting a public infant-toddler centre and nursery school in the city to learn more about the education system and joined children at an outside activity.
The school places an emphasis on outdoor learning and environmental education and Kate talked to children and staff as they handled newts from a tank.
She paid tribute to broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough who recently celebrated his 100 birthday, saying: “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.”
During her visit to the Remida centre, Kate learned it was a resource hub where teachers can bring pre-school children to work on special projects designed to boost their learning through creativity.
Unwanted materials, including brightly-coloured wool, string, textiles and larger plastic tubes are brought to the centre after being donated by companies, including Tetra Pak.
The children are then invited to use materials in workshops run at the centre, which receives more than 3,000 visitors a year including educators and teachers from around the world.
After hearing about the public private partnership that makes the centre possible, Kate was told about how the whole society worked together in Reggio Emilia to support early years education.
Kate nodded and said: “That’s what I’ve really picked up on.”
She touched some of the fabric swatches that children can use to create collages and said that it was “fantastic to see” materials being reused which would “otherwise go to landfill”.
The princess recognised her Italian host by wearing a blazer from Blaze Milano, a luxury Italian womenswear brand, and what appeared to be a fabric bracelet by Atelier Molayem, a Milan-based jewellery company.
Kate ended her visit to Italy by taking on the role of a “rezdora” or housewife, making fresh tortelli pasta, a typical dish from the Emilia-Romagna region.
She kneaded flour, oil, salt and water in a large bowl with her hands and said: “When I do this at home it’s without a big bowl and it goes everywhere, it’s a good workout.”
The princess was visiting Agriturismo Al Vigneto, a farm-stay vineyard an hour’s drive from Reggio Emilia and she laughed when the handle fell off a pasta machine she used to roll the dough.
Chef Ivan Lampredi, guided Kate through the process and after she finished the task told her “You are hired.”
He said later: “I have shown many people how to do this exactly right and she was very good at it. She is a natural rezdora.
“It has been a huge honour for me to host the princess in my kitchen. I can’t believe it. It’s been a big responsibility.”
Some of the people the princess has met over the past two days joined her for lunch at the farm including representatives from the Loris Malaguzzi centre for early years education, the nurseries, and the city of Reggio Emilia.
Aides said Kate had wanted to thank them personally for their support and hospitality, and to acknowledge the role they play in sustaining a culture of care.
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.”
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