Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the St Patrick's Day parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot to present sprigs of shamrocks to the officers and guardsmen of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. Middleton also decorated the regimental mascot, an Irish Wolfhound named Domnhall, with shamrocks.
This annual ceremony dates back to 1901, when Queen Alexandra – wife of the then-king, Edward VII – requested shamrocks be given to the regiment on St Patrick's Day. Ever since then, a senior female member of the Royal Family has carried on the tradition.
Middleton wore a brown Catherine Walker coat and a Lock & Co hat, with a gold shamrock brooch given to the Queen Mother by the Irish Guards.
Kate Middleton presents a shamrock sprig to the mascot of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, an Irish Wolfhound called Domhnall, at the annual St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in AldershotToby Melville/ReutersThe Duchess of Cambridge and her husband laugh during their visit to a St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons BarracksToby Melville/ReutersPrince William salutes as the regimental mascot walks past during the St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons BarracksToby Melville/ReutersThe royals chat to some school girls attending the ceremonyAnthony Harvey/Getty ImagesThe Duchess wears a Catherine Walker coat and Lock & Co hatAnthony Harvey/Getty ImagesPrince William attaches a shamrock to his hat while visiting the Irish GuardsAdrian Dennis/AFPPrince William enjoys a pint of Guinness as his pregnant wife drinks some waterEddie Mulholland/PoolPrince William and Kate Middleton pose for a group shot with guardsmen and the regiment's mascot, Irish wolfhound DomhnallAnthony Harvey/Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cambridge laughs as she and her husband pose with Irish Guards at Mons BarracksEddie Mulholland/Pool
