How Kate Middleton Caused a Stir With Her $3,900 Purse in Italy
When Kate Middleton visited Italy earlier this month, there was one item in her wardrobe that especially caught the fashion world's attention: a covetable powder-blue Aspen purse.
The purse is a brand new Asprey London 167 Mini and retails at $3,600. It was chosen to match the hue of the Princess of Wales' blue suit.
But she seems to have committed something of a fashion faux pas when she crouched down to speak to preschoolers during a visit to the town of Reggio Emilia: she placed the purse on the ground in front of her.
Putting one's bag on the ground is considered bad luck across many cultures, and more specifically seen as a faux pas by etiquette experts.
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Kate's trip to Italy marked her first international trip since she underwent treatment for cancer two years ago.
She was in the northern Italian town to learn more about the renowned 'Reggio Emilia Approach' when it comes to early childhood education, which centers the natural development of a child's personality through discovery, play, and relationships with other children.
Hundreds of people gathered in the town square to greet the princess's arrival.
On the second day of her visit Kate chose to showcase an Italian brand by wearing a floral fabric bracelet by Atelier Molayem.
She commissioned the designer to add three gold cubes to the bracelet bearing the initials of her three children George, Charlotte, and Louis.
That afternoon Kate rolled up her sleeves to help prepare fresh pasta for families in Reggio Emilia. The type of pasta she was shown how to make it called tortelli and is local to the region.
As she kneaded flour with water and oil she said, "It's a good workout!"
The Princess of Wales' Italian trip was widely seen as a success.
"It's the first time she's out officially," royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The New York Times. "And she's obviously grown in strength."
After returning to the UK, Kate shared a heartfelt post on Instagram about her Italian trip.
"Over the past two days in Reggio Emilia, I have seen first hand the power of nature and creativity that put human connection at the centre of a child's world," she wrote.
"I have had such a deeply moving and unforgettable time here. Thank you to the people of Reggio Emilia for welcoming me into a culture of care with such warmth and generosity.
"Our collective work in early childhood must be to protect and nurture the connections that form the foundations of life-long wellbeing.
"Grazie di cuore,
C."
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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 5:13 PM.