Princess Kate's Heartwarming St Patrick's Day with Irish Guards Children
Heartwarming footage captured the Princess of Wales lifting an excited three-year-old daughter of an Irish Guard soldier into the air during St Patrick's Day celebrations. Dressed in an elegant dark green Alexander McQueen coat with a matching hat, Kate, 44, joined Irish Guards and their families in the Officers' and Sergeants' Mess following the St Patrick's Day Irish Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot on Tuesday.
Sweet Interactions with Young Children
The princess met with Lance Sergeant Mills, who led the drums and pipes during the parade, alongside his three-year-old daughter Vienna. The young girl appeared rather taken with the royal visitor. Playfully holding the youngster's arms and leaning her back while Vienna squealed with excitement, Kate crouched down and asked: 'Are you afraid of doing a roly poly?'
As Vienna squealed and momentarily ran away, three-year-old Mila, daughter of Sergeant English, delightfully went over to greet the princess. In response, Kate took her hands and kindly asked 'what's your name?' Showing her caring side, the princess then complimented the youngster on her delightful green dress. 'I love that!' said Kate, as she held the girl's hands and beamed at her with earnest.
Royal Fans Praise the Princess
The incredibly sweet moment of the princess interacting with the excited young girls delighted royal fans, who soon took to social media to praise Kate for being 'so warm and caring' with the 'adorable' youngsters. 'She is just so beautiful and kind. You can just tell,' praised one onlooker, while another added: 'Children are drawn to the Princess of Wales because they can sense her kindness.'
'Catherine loves children, she reminds me of Diana. You can't fake their warmth and caring ways,' commented another observer. 'How lucky are those two adorable little girls to have this moment with her?' asked one avid fan, while another said: 'This will be a special memory for their families.' Meanwhile, others praised Kate for handling the interaction 'perfectly' and noted: 'She is such a natural with children - no wonder they love her.'
St Patrick's Day Traditions and Duties
Earlier that day, Kate, who is colonel of the regiment, greeted officers and guardsmen at Mons Barracks and was seen presenting sprigs of shamrock to members of the regiment, and even to their mascot, an Irish wolfhound. The princess was also pictured smiling as she received the shamrock herself, which is the symbol of Ireland.
A vision in green, Kate wore her hair up and opted for a pair of rarely seen emerald and diamond earrings, which she wore at the Earthshot Awards in 2022. The Emerald and Diamond Halo Earrings from luxury jeweller Asprey London include 72 dazzling diamonds (totalling 0.79ct) and four emeralds (totalling 1.27ct). While no longer available on the site, they appear to have been worth around £8,500.
The Princess adorned the outfit with a delicate gold shamrock brooch by Cartier, loaned by the Irish Guards. Speaking to the junior cadets, she said: 'Well done all of you, it's a hard run. Really well done.' In one sweet moment, the Princess told the wives of the Irish Guards that they need a 'mum's club' to help with childcare.
Historical Context and Royal Traditions
The annual event came to an end with a royal salute from Kate, as the guardsmen completed a march-past. Speaking to the troops and their families in the Sergeant's Mess after the parade, the Princess remarked on the 'amazing swimming pool' and communal areas available. She also discussed sports with the children of the officers present, asking them what they play and how often.
Last year, Princess Catherine marked her first solo St Patrick's Day parade as colonel of the Irish Guards. In previous years, she would attend the event with her husband Prince William, who formerly held the position. Kate was awarded the title in 2023 but was forced to miss the parade the following year as she underwent treatment for cancer.
Dressed in his Irish Guards Frock Coat, William delivered a heartfelt speech in which he expressed his sadness for stepping aside and described the role as 'one of the great honours of my life.' 'I may be stepping aside, but in Colonel Catherine you have a committed, focused and already incredibly loyal 11th Colonel,' he said. 'As you serve together over the years ahead, know that I will continue to watch you, with huge pride in having been one of you.'
The Significance of Shamrocks
The Irish Guards was founded in 1900 by Queen Victoria, and the custom of handing out shamrocks began in 1901, introduced by her daughter-in-law, Queen Alexandra. The shamrock, with its three heart-shaped leaves, is particularly associated with Ireland and said to symbolise the Holy Trinity - representing both faith and country.
Each year on St Patrick's Day shamrocks are distributed to the Irish Guards who serve in the British Armed Forces. During times of war shamrocks are sent to troops on active duty, often placed inside their Kevlar helmets for good luck. For those stationed at home, the highest honour is to receive the shamrock directly from a senior royal.
This duty became a hallmark of the Queen Mother until her death in 2002. While Princess Anne continued the tradition for some time, it has been carried out by Kate since 2012, while William served as the Royal Regiment Colonel.
