The Princess of Wales joined a St Patrick's Day Parade as the royal marked the occasion with the Irish Guards, where she serves as the regiment's Colonel. The event took place in Aldershot, Hampshire on Tuesday, 17 March.
The appearance signals Kate's full return to public duties following her health crisis last year. She became a Colonel in December 2023 but had to miss the parade in 2024 due to her abdominal surgery and cancer diagnosis. In January 2025, the Princess of Wales announced she was in remission and has engaged in numerous engagements since.
Catherine presented the traditional sprigs of shamrock to the Officers and Guardsmen, who then issued them along the ranks. At the event, Kate greeted the soldiers, as well as Turlough Mór, an Irish wolfhound who goes by the kennel name Séamus and serves as the mascot of the regiment at the parade. The experience appeared to delight her. Her Royal Highness was seen smiling and laughing as she went through the ceremony.
Catherine met the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant's daughters, seven-year-old Ella and five-year-old Evie, squatting down to smile and chat with them. The day continued with a formal salute as she observed the parade, followed by the presentation of long service and good conduct medals to three soldiers. Later, she joined sergeants, their families, and young cadets known as the "Mini Micks" in the mess hall, where, true to tradition, she raised a half-pint of Guinness in a celebratory toast.
For the ceremonial duties, Kate dressed in deliberate symbolic fashion. The Princess of Wales re-wore a green Alexander McQueen-designed coat for the 2026 St. Patrick's Day Parade, going monochrome for the holiday. The long-sleeve piece featured a midi hem and double-breasted silhouette with sharp lapels and hip pockets, coordinated with a Gina Foster Millinery hat in a shade of forest green, crafted with felt fabric.
The jewellery proved particularly striking. Among the most talked-about details was her choice of earrings, a rarely seen pair from Asprey London. Crafted in platinum, the drop-style design features a halo setting of 72 diamonds (totalling 0.79 carats) encircling four emeralds (1.27 carats in total). Her hair also carried Irish resonance. She wore her hair in an intricate braided updo, widely interpreted by observers as a subtle reference to the Celtic Trinity Knot, or Triquetra, a symbol deeply tied to Irish heritage.
The Princess of Wales spent just over a couple of hours at the service. The event marked her second consecutive St Patrick's Day with the regiment since assuming the honorary Colonel role, emphasising the place the ceremony holds in her public calendar.