On the celebration of St Patrick’s Day, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, presented shamrocks to Irish Guards during a visit to Aldershot Barracks in Aldershot.
The event marks the Duchess’ first solo military appearance in the absence of Prince William who is currently serving in the Falklands.
Dressed in a green creation by designer Emilia Wickstead, Kate looked stunning and elegant. She paired the dress with a Lock & Co chocolate brown hat and an Irish Guards brooch that reportedly belonged to the Queen Mother when she visited the Irish Guards every St Patrick’s Day.
The Duchess presented the three-leafed clovers to 40 officers of the battalion. Up to 450 soldiers were on parade, accompanied by the regimental mascot Conmeal, an Irish wolfhound who received his own sprig of shamrock from the Duchess.
During the event, Kate also posed for a group photo with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. The tradition of presenting the shamrocks started during 1901 by Queen Alexandra who was the wife of King Edward II.
The Daily Mail reported that last year, the Duke of Cambridge was appointed to the honorary rank of Colonel of the Irish Guard, and on June 25 the couple presented operational service medals in Windsor to the battalion for their Afghan deployment.