Prince William and Kate brave cold to attend St Patrick's Day parade

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have faced down snowfall and ferocious winds to watch a traditional St Patrick's Day parade of the Irish Guards.

William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, and heavily pregnant Kate braved icy gusts to visit the 1st Battalion at their base in Hounslow, west London.

About 350 soldiers arrived on the Parade Square in their red regalia, led by Irish wolfhound Domhnall.

Kate, who is due to give birth to the couple's third child next month, wore a green Catherine Walker coat and a Gina Foster hat as she presented the shamrock to officers and warrant officers.

Betraying no awareness of the biting temperature, she smiled and chatted to each of the military men in turn, finally fastening a shamrock to the collar of Domhnall.

William took the salute as the regiment continued a march-past and three thunderous cheers were then declared for the royals.

Earlier, Domhnall's handler, Drummer Aidan Cathcart, jokingly expressed reservations that his charge would behave.

"Domhnall's role is very monumental - he is the first guy on the parade," he said.

"He is the main guy on the march, it's a pretty important day for him."

Asked if he was confident Domhnall would perform as planned, Drummer Cathcart replied, bluntly: "No".

The wolfhound, the regiment's longest-serving mascot since 1985, had been doing test runs all week to prepare for his moment in front of the royals.

It is the fifth time he has received the shamrock and the second time he has been handled by Drummer Cathcart.

The Irish Guards were well prepared for the surprise turn in the weather, having recently conducted the Changing of the Guard in heavy snow during Storm Emma.

Also among the guests on Saturday was the Irish Defence Force's most senior military officer, chief of staff Mark Mellett.