The Princess of Wales made a triumphant return to the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barracks in London, marking her first attendance at the event in two years following her cancer treatment last year.
The visit held special significance as it was her second St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Colonel of the Irish Guards, having been appointed as Colonel in 2022.
The Princess of Wales during a visit to the regiment at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Wellington Barracks. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Dressed in a striking bottle-green Alexander McQueen coat paired with the Irish Guards brooch, the Princess carried out her ceremonial duties. During a private ceremony in the Officers’ Mess, she presented Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers in recognition of their dedication and service to the Army.
Additionally, she awarded operational medals to Irish Guards soldiers who had recently returned from deployment in Iraq, warmly expressing how much she had missed participating in the ceremony over the past two years.
The Princess of Wales presented operational medals to Irish Guards soldiers. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
One of the most anticipated traditions of the parade is the presentation of shamrock. She distributed the sprigs to officers and guardsmen before extending the honour to the regiment’s beloved mascot, Turlough Mór, an Irish wolfhound.
Mascot handler Drummer Joseph Aldridge reflected on the significance of the Princess’s visit, saying, ‘it was special. She’s our Colonel, and obviously, we want her to come to our parade every year, but due to some unfortunate circumstances she couldn’t [last year]. It’s nice to see her come out and get to meet everyone — especially Seamus.’
HRH met he regiment’s beloved mascot, Turlough Mór, an Irish wolfhound. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Demonstrating her continued camaraderie with the regiment, the Princess joined the guardsmen in the Junior Ranks’ cookhouse, where she enjoyed a half-pint of Guinness while engaging in informal conversations about their deployments and training experiences.
Following the parade, she took time to meet veterans of the Irish Guards and the Mini Micks, junior cadets from Northern Ireland. She later joined the celebrations in the junior ranks’ dining hall, where the senior guardsman in the battalion raised a toast in her honour with the traditional pint of Guinness. Sitting down with the soldiers, she learned more about their roles and experiences, before heading to the sergeants’ mess to meet some of the families of the regiment.
The Princess attended the Sergeants’ Mess and met with members and their families. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Her Royal Highness met veterans of the Irish Guards and Mini Micks who are junior cadets from Northern Ireland. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
In a touching display of gratitude, the Princess generously placed money behind the bar for the parade’s after-party, upholding a tradition she initiated in previous years.
This year’s event held special significance as it marked the regiment’s 125th anniversary. The Irish Guards were formed on 1st April 1900 by Queen Victoria, to commemorate the Irish men who fought in the second Boer War for the British Empire. Along with the Royal Irish Regiment – it is one of only two Irish Regiments that are still part of the British Army. They recruit mainly in Northern Ireland, and for this reason until 1992 were exempt from tours of duty in the province during The Troubles.
