Princess of Wales celebrates St Patrick's Day with Irish Guards

By India McTaggart.

The Princess of Wales presented an Irish wolfhound with a sprig of shamrock to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

The Princess, who became Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2023, greeted officers and their families at Mons Barracks in Aldershot on Tuesday to mark the Irish public holiday.

She watched their annual parade and presented troops, as well as their four-legged mascot named Turlough Mor, also known as Seamus, with traditional sprigs of shamrock.

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The parade concluded with a Royal salute from the Princess as the guardsmen completed a march-past and three cheers of hip hooray for their Colonel.

For the visit, the Princess chose a dark green coat, belted at the waist, paired with Asprey halo emerald earrings, which she previously wore to the Earthshot Prize awards in Boston in 2022.

At the end of the parade, she was given a bouquet of posies by Ella, seven, and Evie, five, the two daughters of the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant.

Elsewhere, she met the two women who founded the Women's Network at the Irish Guards.

Speaking to Sgt Maxwell and Lance Sgt Aldous, the Princess asked if they thought "things were changing" regarding attitudes towards women in the Armed Forces.

Lance Sgt Aldous said she joined in 2011 and it was "completely different". Sgt Maxwell told the Princess their network helps people open up and has spread out to wider units.

"A lot of it is about people's past experiences where they haven't been heard before by their chain of command and been supported properly," Sgt Maxwell said.

"It's trying to change the wider support of why men need to advocate for women and try to bring them up to the same platform so they can achieve their potential and that's where, here, I think people have really turned their ears on."

Speaking after the parade, Seamus's handler, Drummer Joseph Aldridge, said the Irish Wolfhound was a "unique mascot".

"They were bred for defending cattle in Northern Ireland and Seamus does many ceremonial duties, such as today," he said.

Seamus also took part in ceremonial activities with the Irish Guards at the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, her funeral and then King Charles's Coronation.

He added: "The Princess remembered me from last year and she asked how Seamus was doing and making sure he's fit and healthy."

Speaking to the troops and their families in the Sergeant's Mess after the parade, the Princess remarked on the "amazing swimming pool" and communal areas available to them.

The Princess, a mother of three, also suggested to the wives of the Irish Guards that they needed a "mum's club" to help with childcare as she discussed juggling taking care of young children with the pressures of having spouses in the Armed Forces.

She discussed the importance of family welfare, saying: "It's just dedicating time isn't it."

She also talked about sports with the children of the officers present, asking them what they play and how often.

Elsewhere, she awarded medals to soldiers for long service and good conduct before meeting the "Mini Micks", who are junior cadets from Northern Ireland.

Speaking to the cadets, she said: "Well done all of you, it's a hard run. Really well done."

The Princess marked her first solo St Patrick's Day parade as Colonel of the Irish Guards last year. She put money behind the bar for soldiers and enjoyed a half pint of Guinness with the troops.

She was forced to miss the parade in 2024 because of her abdominal surgery and subsequent cancer diagnosis.

The previous year, she attended with the Prince of Wales shortly before taking over from him as Colonel. The couple enjoyed a pint with the officers and William watched the Princess take her first Royal salute.

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2026

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