PRINCESS Kate has been snapped sipping a glass of Guinness during her trip to the St Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Princess of Wales dropped in on the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, with the regiment taking part in the celebration of the patron saint of Ireland.
Kate was seen wearing a bottle green coat fit for the occasion as she exited her car on arrival at the barracks.
The princess not only graced the parade but followed up with the generous gesture of putting money behind the bar for the parade’s after party.
She had done the same last year after being unable to attend due to her recovering from abdominal surgery.
Today, Kate joined soldiers in the Junior Ranks’ cookhouse at the barracks for a half pint of Guinness.
The relaxed gathering gave the royal a chance to speak informally with soldiers about their experiences, including those recently deployed overseas and others involved in training Ukrainian troops.
In a sit down chat with a group of troops she quizzed them about the difficulties of being on deployment.
She said: “Being able to manage that work-life balance – it’s tough.”
Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the toast, said afterwards: “She wanted to know how things were going with the blokes in general.
“She was really nice and really warm. I was kind of flustered. You could tell she had a genuine interest in us.”
Dressed in green with a gold shamrock brooch, Kate was all smiles as she chatted to Irish Guardsman and their families in the Sergeants’ Mess at Wellington Barracks.
She also raised spirits after generously putting money behind the bar.
Kate, who sipped from a half pint of Guinness, said: “It’s the least I could do.”
She also spoke for the first time about Prince William’s beard which he has sported now for the past six months.
Chatting about her hirsute hubby to section commanders, said: “These trends come and go. I was saying to my husband, I’m not sure how long he’s going to keep his for.”
Kate was also in a mood to look to the future, admitting she hoped to take George, Charlotte and Louis, on a Royal tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Meeting both new and familiar faces, the princess sipped her Guinness with Guardsman Barry Loughlin as she was given three cheers by members of the regiment.
Carice Irwin-Clark, wife of Lt Col Ben Irwin-Clark, told the princess: “We so often see you at matches because our girls are always playing each other, they are Farleigh and Lambrook, so I think there’s stiff competition.”
Kate replied: “I was just saying, they’re doing so much, sporting events.”
She handed out long service and good conduct medals to Colour Sergeant Healy, Sgt Ben Beavis, Sgt Kristian Pooley and the Operation Shader medal to Sgt Jamie Davies, before heading out onto the Parade Ground.
Speaking to Corporal Adam Hamilton, an Australian reservist: “George finds it fascinating that he has been to Australia and New Zealand.
“I would like to go back there with them now. It’s finding time to do that. But I love to travel – yes, it’s a long flight. But I love the Middle East because that’s familiar to me (from) growing up. There are so many opportunities now to travel, I think it’s brilliant to experience it.
“We tend to go further afield when it’s official visits, it’s being able to carve out time to experience these countries in a more private capacity. Because otherwise you end up seeing lots of insides of amazing buildings but you don’t get to meet that many.. people
“It’s making sure that you can combine a bit of work with… the children. I might see you down there.”
Kate was earlier greeted by senior officers before heading to the Officers’ Mess to present medals.
Soldiers from the Irish Guards, who recently returned from deployment in Iraq were presented with medals from the Princess of Wales.
During the private ceremony, she also awarded Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers in recognition of their commitment to the Army.
She told soldiers and their families how she had missed taking part in the ceremony over the past two years.
She told corporal Adam Hamilton, from Australia, about her love of the country.
She said: “I loved our trip to Australia. There are so many opportunities now to travel.
“We tend to go further afield when it’s official visits. George always finds it fascinating that we’ve been there.”
Adam’s wife Grace Hamilton said afterwards: “We spoke about Australia. She looks into your eyes when she speaks to you. It just shows she’s giving you her full attention.”
Following these medal presentations, Princess Kate was seen distributing shamrock to soldiers on the parade square.
She also gifted Turlough Mór, the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot, a sprig of shamrock.
In another exchange, the royal was heard talking to the family of Sergeant Jamie Davies about her love of the flute.
The senior royal was seen walking around the parade, talking to officers and providing them with shamrock sprigs.
The visit marks her second St Patrick’s Day as Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role she took on in 2023.
This year’s event is notably special as the regiment is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also took to X to pay tribute to the Irish Guards.
They wrote: “Happy St Patrick’s Day!
“Great to be back to join the Irish Guards for their annual St Patrick’s Day parade here at Wellington Barracks.
“Proud to be your Colonel, and celebrate 125 years of the regiment with you today.”
Princess Kate missed out on celebrations last year as she was still recovering from her abdominal surgery.
It was this operation that led to the discovery of her cancer, for which she then began preventative chemotherapy.
Unable to raise her usual Guinness toast with soldiers at Mons Barracks in Aldershot last year, the royal made sure she was there in spirit by putting £2,000 behind the regimental bar for an after party.
In appreciating the gesture, members from the Irish Guards gave three cheers to an absent Kate, raising their bearskin helmets into the air as a mark of respect.
It is also confirmed that the Princess of Wales has followed the same act of generosity this year, putting money behind the bar once more for the brave members of the Irish Guards.
After presenting medals and traditional sprigs of shamrock to Officers and Guardsman today, as well as the Irish Wolfhound regimental mascot, the princess will continue on with the parade.
It will will conclude with a Royal Salute and march-past where Kate will take the salute as Colonel.
After the parade, she will meet veterans of the Irish Guards and Mini Micks, who are junior cadets from Northern Ireland.
To cap off the celebrations she will visit the Junior Ranks dining hall where the Senior Guardsman in the Battalion will propose a toast to the Princess.
Kate will spend time in the Sergeants’ Mess to meet with members and their families.
This comes as the Princess of Wales is returning to her full royal duties after completing her cancer treatment.
[boxout headline=”Kate’s role with the Irish Guards”]The Princess of Wales is honorary colonel of the regiment.
The 2023 St Patrick’s Day celebration was Kate’s first as honorary colonel, after taking over from Prince William in the role.
The Prince of Wales previously said that being Colonel of the Irish Guards was one of the “great honours of my life”.
An honorary colonel is usually a member of the royal family or a prominent retired military officer with connections to the regiment.
The ceremonial role usually means Kate would be at every event for the unit but unfortunately had to miss out on it in 2024.
KATE CELEBRATES WITH ENGLAND PLAYERS
It comes after Kate, 43, joined husband Prince William, 42, at Saturday’s Six Nations rugby clash between England and Wales on Saturday.
Kate was snapped celebrating with the England side after they trounced Wales 68-14 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Following the match, both William and Kate headed to the Wales and England changing rooms to celebrate with – or comfort – the players.
Kate has been captured smiling and shaking the hands of the winning England side – many of who were having a celebratory beer.
Meanwhile William was commiserating with the devastated Welsh team following the huge loss.
During the game, the Royal couple were seen bantering with fans as they supported opposite sides during the England-Wales Six Nations rugby clash.
England was “ready to embrace the hostility of Cardiff” according to lock Ollie Chessum – in one of the last games of the season.
Kate and William are patrons of the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) respectively.
Despite the good-natured rivalry, they united before the game to greet injured players at the stadium supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust.
In a story posted to their shared Instagram account, the pair wrote: “A pleasure to meet with players supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust ahead of today’s match in Cardiff.”
The same message was also written in Welsh, along with snaps from the event.
The famously competitive couple have previously joked about their opposing loyalties when it comes to the Six Nations.
In 2023, William remarked it would be a “tense journey home” with his wife after a Six Nations Wales v England match in Cardiff.
[boxout headline=”WILLING ENGLAND ON” intro=”PRINCE William’s tenure as FA President has been marked by a huge upturn in form.”]May 2006: He takes over from uncle Prince Andrew.
June 2006: He cheers on England and meets fans at the World Cup in Germany.
2010: He and Prince Harry visit the England camp in South Africa.
2012-2014: The future King stays home for the disappointing Euro 2012 and the dismal 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
2016: Wills says the FA’s governance structure needs reform, at a lunch commemorating his ten-year anniversary as president.
2018: The Prince does not attend the World Cup in Russia but he tweeted after the 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter finals: “You wanted to make history England and you are doing just that.”
2021: The president continues his hands-on approach to the Three Lions during the Covid-delayed Euro 2020.
He gave a dressing room speech after England’s final defeat to Italy, which he watched alongside wife Kate and son George at Wembley.
2022: Wills and Kate cheer the Lionesses on to England’s first trophy since 1966 at the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.
2024: He roars England to victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024 — months after the double cancer diagnosis shock of Kate and dad Charles. He steps down after loss in final.
As well as his love for rugby, Prince William is also a footie fan – and was spotted earlier this week enjoying a matchday at Villa Park mixing with the other fans.
The royal has spoken of falling in love with Aston Villa after being taken to a match by friends as a boy.
He also revealed he visits fan forums anonymously online — and moves his kids around when watching at home to bring the team luck.
William said he was gripped by the “sense of belonging” and the passion of his fellow football fans.
When the new England boss Thomas Tuchel was appointed, the FA received criticism for choosing a foreigner rather than an Englishman.
However the royal gave Tuchel the royal seal of approval.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Prince William, now an FA patron after serving 18 years as president, said: “I understand the debate around having an English manager.
“But, to me, it should be the best person for the job — and Thomas is exactly the right person.
“Without doubt he is one of the top five managers in the world.”
“It would be amazing if he could win the World Cup next year. It’s gearing up to that and it’s definitely possible.“
Kate’s appearance at the rugby and now the Irish Guards engagement comes as part of a gradual return to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer.
