Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are visiting the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow on the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Duke is the Colonel of the Irish Guards since May 2011.
350 soldiers marched onto the Parade Square at Cavalry Barracks led by their mascot, the Irish Wolfhound Domhnall. The parade concluded with a march-past where the Royal couple took the salute.
A minute’s silence was held for the victims of the attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. The horrific inhuman incident has left all of us shocked. The support and courage New Zealand showed during the tough time were admirable.
Catherine presented the shamrock to Officers and Warrant Officers, who in turn issued it along with the ranks. The soldiers usually put the shamrock behind the cap star on the forage cap’s front as the Duke has donned in the above photo.
Shamrock presentation parades trace their origins to the turn of the 20th century, on 28th February 1900 Queen Victoria instructed all ranks of her Irish regiments to wear a sprig of shamrock in their headdress to “commemorate the gallantry” of her Irish soldiers.
“HM the Queen is pleased to order that in future on Saint Patrick’s Day all ranks in Her Majesty’s Irish regiments shall wear as a distinction a sprig of shamrock in their head-dress to commemorate the gallantry of Her Irish soldiers during the recent battles in South Africa.”
The Duchess of Cambridge also presents shamrock to Irish Wolfhound Domhnall, the mascot of Irish Guards.
The Irish Guards have had a busy yet rewarding 12 months with three years of ceremonial duties coming to an end in January 2019. The main focus was on Exercise Askari Storm, a battlegroup level exercise in Kenya. Today’s parade marks the end of ceremonial duties and the start of a busy overseas operational training period for the battalion.
Today’s parade marks the end of ceremonial duties and the start of a busy overseas operational training period for @irish_guards. The battalion currently has troops deployed in Uganda, Jordan and Kenya #StPatricksWeekend #family @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/VrzZAy0uW4
— British Army (@BritishArmy) March 17, 2019
The Irish Guards currently have troops deployed in Uganda, Jordan and Kenya as they also prepare to go onto high readiness from the beginning of April. They will see Number One Company deploying to Georgia in August. From September mission-specific training will ramp up for the Battalion as they prepare to deploy on operations to South Sudan and Iraq.
Duchess was presented with beautiful bouquets.
The Duke and Duchess then met members of the Regiment before sitting for official Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess photographs, and soldiers and their families.
Finally, The Duke and Duchess visited the Guardsman’s lunch where the longest-serving Guardsman in the Battalion proposed a toast to the royal couple, and thank The Duchess for presenting the gift of the shamrock.
Since her wedding in April 2011, this is Duchess’ 7th attendance at the event. The only exception was 2016 when she was at Anmer Hall with George and Charlotte. A look back at Duchess’ previous appearances. The beautiful collage was made by the lovely Katie on Instagram.
Today, once again keeping up with the tradition, Duchess chose a sharply tailored green coat. Lauren Parkinson on twitter noted the similarities between today’s coat and Alexander McQueen Black Coat Duchess worn on Remembrance Day Service in November 2018, so it could be a bespoke Alexander McQueen Piece. Duchesss coat features a structured shoulder silhouette with collar style neckline, a belted peplum waistline.
Lauren Parkinson also found this Alexander McQueen Military Jacket that has exactly similar silhouette as Duchess’ coat.
The jacket is described as, “Military-inspired peplum jacket in light wool silk. Metal mythical decorated buttons on waist and collar. Concealed button fastening on center front.”
Duchess paired the outfit with Gianvito Rossi Piper 85 suede pumps debuted in March 2019 for the first time when she visited Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre.
And herKiki McDonough “Special Edition Green Tourmaline, Green Amethyst and Diamond Earrings” debuted during India visit in 2016. She then also wore the earrings at St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March 2018.
Duchess topped her look with a new green Hat featuring floral detaling. It’s label is still unknown. She also wore the traditional shamrock and Cartier Shamrock Brooch.
Duchess kept the cold away with black gloves and dataduchess2 on twitter noted that Catherine was carrying her Jenny Packham Roxy Clutch.
Next, we will see Duchess on Tuesday, first at Foundling Museum and then with Queen at King’s College London where they will open Bush House.
PS: Post is in Progress will be updated soon.
