Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will celebrate St Patrick’s Day by attending a parade of the Irish Guards.

William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, and Kate will pay a visit to 1st Battalion at their base in Hounslow, west London.

The royals will be reunited with their furry friend Domhnall, an Irish wolfhound and mascot they have met several times previously.

Domhnall, which is Gaelic for “world leader”, will lead 350 soldiers as they march on the Parade Square at Cavalry Barracks on Sunday morning.

Kate will then present the shamrock to officers and warrant officers, before a march past where William will take the salute.

Since 1901, when the regiment was first founded by order of Queen Victoria, the regiment’s parade has traditionally been presided over by a woman.

Kate and William
Kate and William at last year’s parade (Andrew Parsons/PA)

At past parades the Duke has sipped on a pint of Guinness in a nod to the tradition of the day.

Last year Kate, who was heavily pregnant with the couple’s third child, opted for a sparkling water instead.

Three years of ceremonial duties for the Irish Guards came to an end in January.

The main focus of the past 12 months was on exercise Askari Storm, a battlegroup exercise in Kenya.

It currently has troops deployed in Uganda, Jordan and Kenya, and training will ramp up in September ahead of missions to South Sudan and Iraq.

Alongside its role serving in British conflicts overseas, the Irish Guards also serve in ceremonial and public duties at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James’s Palace and the Tower of London.

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