On St. Patrick’s Day this year, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, made the occasion warmer and more charming by joining the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks. Wearing a bottle-green coat and a matching percher hat, she presented the soldiers, officers, and Seamus, the regiment’s Irish wolfhound mascot, with traditional sprigs of shamrock.
This was a special event for Catherine, as she took on the title of colonel of the Irish Guards in 2023. It was a particularly bittersweet occasion for her, having missed last year’s celebrations due to a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, it came as no surprise that her return this year was greeted with much excitement and gratitude by the soldiers.
The day’s proceedings began with presenting medals to the soldiers who had just returned from deployment in Iraq for long service and outstanding conduct, after which the princess took her place as colonel and oversaw the traditional march-past with the troops parading before her in fine style.
Once the formalities ended, Catherine joined the men for a more relaxed get-together in the dining hall for junior ranks. Winning herself even more brownie points, she forked out money behind the bar for the men. When they thanked her for the generosity, she brushed it off, saying, “That’s the least I can do,” all the while wearing a smile.
As she chatted with the guardsmen while having half a pint of Guinness, she inquired about their experience during deployment, seemingly quite interested in their lives. Guardsman Barry Loughlin commented on her refreshing approachability.
“She was so warm and easy to talk to,” Loughlin went on to say. “She asked how everyone was doing and really listened. I was a bit nervous, but she made it so comfortable… You could tell she truly cares about us.”
Catherine also visited the sergeants’ mess to meet with families of servicemen still deployed, including those who are participating in training Ukrainian soldiers. Her heartfelt conversations with the families provided a sense of warmth and cohesion in difficult times.
The Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day celebrations date back to 1901, making for a beautiful fusion of military tradition and personal warmth this year. Thus, Catherine’s participation not only demonstrated her commitment to the regiment but also her ability to make everyone feel valuable and loved.
Her presence at the event made it very special, and that’s something the soldiers and their families will carry with them forever. It was an event celebrating what it means to be Irish and to have military pride, as well as that authenticity of personhood that makes moments so memorable.