Princess Kate Joins Irish Guards for St Patrick's Day Celebrations
The Princess of Wales brought warmth and cheer to the annual St Patrick's Day parade of the Irish Guards, held at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire. As colonel of the regiment, Kate participated in the traditional festivities, which included presenting sprigs of shamrock and meeting 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 held historical significance. This pin was originally given to the late Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s, linking past and present royal patronage. During the parade, she wished officers and guardsmen a happy St Patrick's Day and greeted the regiment's mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Turlough Mor, affectionately known as Seamus.
After taking the royal salute and receiving three cheers from the troops, the princess presented good conduct and long-service medals to three soldiers. She then moved to the officers' mess to meet the families of servicemen, where heartwarming interactions unfolded.
Charming Encounters with Young Children
The highlight of the event was Kate's engagement with two three-year-old girls, Vienna and Mila, daughters of soldiers in the regiment. Vienna, the daughter of Lance Sergeant Mills and his wife Jessica, jumped with excitement as the princess crouched down to greet her. Kate complimented Vienna's "beautiful hair" and applauded when the little girl twirled in her blue dress.
In a playful moment, Kate offered her hands to Vienna, who took them and swung towards the floor. The princess laughed as she pulled the child back to her feet. She was then joined by Mila, daughter of Sergeant English, whom she praised for her dress and matching green bow, asking if "mummy" had helped with it.
Family Reactions and Regimental Pride
Lance Sergeant Mills, who led the drums and pipes during the parade, described meeting the princess as "such a great opportunity," noting 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."
Jessica Mills shared her impressions, saying, "(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."
Seamus the Mascot and Royal Connections
Drummer Joseph G.S. Aldridge, handler of the Irish wolfhound Seamus, noted that Kate "always loves" greeting the dog. During the parade, she pinned a sprig of shamrock to Seamus's red coat. Drummer Aldridge said, "It's nice because she remembered me from last year. 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."
He described it as a "privilege" to have the Princess of Wales as the regiment's colonel, adding, "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."
Historical Context and Modern Role
Kate succeeded the Prince of Wales as colonel of the Irish Guards in December 2022. Her husband is now colonel of the Welsh Guards, while the King serves 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 regiment, founded by Queen Victoria, is nearing the end of its 125th anniversary year. It has played a key role in Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills training to Ukrainian soldiers, highlighting its ongoing relevance and service.
