After 3 years, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were back with the Irish Guards for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The last parade was organized in 2019 and since then has been canceled due to the COVID-19.
Prince William, who has been the Colonel of Irish Guards since May 2011, and Duchess Catherine attended the parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot. Every year in March, on St. On Patrick’s Day, hundreds of soldiers march, led by an Irish mascot. This year’s mascot is wolfhound Turlough Mor (also known as Seamus).
Upon arrival, daughter of Commanding Officer Robert Money, 20-month-old Gaia Money presented the Duchess of Cambridge with a posy.
After the salute, A Royal lady presents the shamrock to the officers and guardsmen who in turn distribute it in their ranks. 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 presented the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot, with his own sprig of shamrock to mark the occasion. Following the parade, the Duke and Duchess met members of the Regiment before sitting for official Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess photographs and a photo with Irish Guards in every rank in the British Army. Next, the royal couple visited the Junior Ranks dining hall where the Senior Guardsman in the Battalion proposed a toast to them.
The Duchess of Cambridge has been attending the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2012. She only missed it in 2016.
Catherine was wearing a green Laura Green London Emilia coat. Thanks to @innominate_93 for the quick id. The bespoke coat is described as, “A distinguished piece cut in speckled hunting green military wool perfectly complemented with a khaki green silk satin lining. “
Catherine paired it with her Emmy London Rebecca greenery pumps.
Her diamond and emerald earrings.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are all set for their first-ever Caribbean tour and will depart from London on Saturday. Stay tuned for the coverage!
In other news, The DuchessofCambridge‘s birthday portrait will be on display at the Welcome Gallery of Reading Museum from 7th April to 4th June.
Forty years ago, the Duchess of Cambridge was born in Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital.
To celebrate the Duchess’s links with Reading, we are thrilled to share that a portrait of the Duchess will be arriving at Reading Museum, lent as part of @NPGLondon‘s #PortraitsComingHome.
— Reading Museum (@readingmuseum) March 16, 2022
