Princess Kate Joins Irish Guards for St Patrick's Day Celebrations
The Princess of Wales, Kate, brought warmth and cheer to the annual St Patrick's Day parade held by the Irish Guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire. As the regiment's colonel, she participated in the traditional festivities, which included presenting sprigs of shamrock and engaging with soldiers and their families.
A Royal Tradition with Personal Touches
Kate arrived wearing a bottle green coat, adorned with an Irish Guards cap star that was originally gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s. Her role involved wishing officers and guardsmen a happy St Patrick's Day and greeting the regiment's mascot, an Irish wolf hound named Turlough Mor, affectionately known as Seamus. The princess also pinned a shamrock to Seamus's red coat, a gesture that highlighted her connection to the regiment's customs.
Heartwarming Encounters with Young Families
After the parade, which concluded with three cheers for Kate as she took the royal salute, she presented good conduct and long-service medals to three soldiers. The most memorable moments, however, came when she met the families of servicemen in the officers' mess. Kate crouched down to greet three-year-old Vienna, the daughter of Lance Sergeant Mills, who led the drums and pipes during the event. Vienna jumped with excitement as the princess complimented her "beautiful hair" and applauded when the little girl twirled in her blue dress.
Kate offered her hands to Vienna, who took them and swung playfully toward the floor. Laughing, the princess pulled her back up and was joined by another three-year-old, Mila, daughter of Sergeant English. Kate praised Mila's dress and matching green bow, asking if "mummy" had helped with it. These interactions showcased Kate's down-to-earth demeanor and ability to connect with children.
Soldiers and Families Share Their Experiences
Lance Sergeant Mills described meeting the princess as "such a great opportunity," noting that his daughter had been excited about it "all week." He added, "I led the drums and pipes on today, so that was a big moment for me in my career." His wife, Jessica, remarked, "(Kate's) just so easy to talk to, and really down to earth, I wasn't actually expecting that. It's my first time getting to come to the parade, so it was really lovely."
Drummer Joseph G.S. Aldridge, Seamus's handler, shared that Kate "always loves" greeting the dog and remembered him from the previous year. He said, "She asked how he's doing, (said) it's lovely to see him, as always. He's fit, he's healthy, that's what she wanted to know – how healthy he is." Aldridge emphasized the privilege of having Kate as the regiment's colonel, stating, "Every regiment of the guards has their own member of the royal family, and they have their own traditions with the royal family, so it's a really nice day for her to come out and celebrate St Patrick's Day with us."
Royal Roles and Regimental History
Kate succeeded the Prince of Wales as colonel of the Irish Guards in December 2022, while her husband now serves as colonel of the Welsh Guards. Other royal appointments include the King as colonel of the Coldstream Guards, the Queen as colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and the Duke of Edinburgh as colonel of the Scots Guards. The Irish Guards, founded by Queen Victoria, are currently marking the end of their 125th anniversary year. The regiment has played a key role in Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills training to Ukrainian soldiers, underscoring its ongoing significance in military affairs.
