Princess of Wales Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Guards
The Princess of Wales marked St. Patrick’s Day in traditional fashion, joining the Irish Guards for their annual celebration at Wellington Barracks.
Dressed in an elegant bottle-green ensemble and a stylish percher hat, Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to officers, guardsmen, and Seamus, the regiment’s beloved Irish wolfhound mascot. As part of the festivities, she also awarded medals for long service and good conduct to soldiers recently returned from Iraq.
After the formal ceremony, the princess took the salute during a march-past before heading to the junior ranks’ dining hall, where she shared a drink with the troops. Raising a glass of Guinness, she was warmly thanked for covering the bar tab, to which she modestly responded, “That’s the least I can do.”
During the gathering, she engaged in conversations with soldiers about their deployments and daily lives. Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led a toast in her honor, described her as “really nice and really warm,” adding that her genuine interest in their well-being was evident.
Catherine later visited the sergeants’ mess, where she met with the families of soldiers currently serving overseas, including those involved in training Ukrainian troops.
This longstanding tradition, dating back to 1901, continues to strengthen the bond between the royal family and the Irish Guards, with Catherine proudly serving as the regiment’s colonel since 2023.
