KATE ENJOYS ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

The Princess of Wales paid a very special visit to the Irish Guards as they celebrated their 125th anniversary

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

The Princess of Wales was the picture of elegance as she celebrated St Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards – an occasion on which she also enjoyed a traditional drink of Guinness. Kate, 43, who is colonel of the regiment, joined the Guards at the Wellington Barracks last week for their 125th anniversary event as she continues her very welcome return to royal duties.

Dressed in a stunning tailored bottle green Alexander McQueen coat and a Lock & Co hat by renowned milliner Awon Golding, Kate returned to the parade ground for the first time since her cancer diagnosis. She presented medals to servicemen recently deployed overseas, before meeting the regiment's Irish wolfhound mascot Turlough Mór, also known as Seamus, and handing sprigs of shamrock to the officers.

Following the official parade, a smiling Kate, who last year received a three-cheer salute in her absence from the Guards on St Patrick's Day due to her illness, earned even more adoration and respect from the guardsmen when she joined them in the junior ranks' cookhouse - and put money behind the bar for drinks. The princess also enjoyed a half-pint of “the black stuff” herself.

The mother-of-three, who first visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day in 2023 at the Mons Barracks in Hampshire after taking over the role of colonel from Prince William, later sat down with some of the soldiers to discuss their work, before also taking the time to sit with and chat to their families.

Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the celebratory toast, later admitted he was left “flustered” by Kate's presence, describing the princess as “really nice and really warm”.