For over a century, royal women have been upholding the beloved St. Patrick’s Day tradition of presenting shamrocks to the Irish Guards, a custom introduced in 1901 by Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. This tradition has been revived and given new life in recent years by Kate Middleton, who has embraced it with grace since marrying Prince William. Her involvement has re-established the event as a key occasion in the royal calendar.
The Irish Guards were founded in 1900 by Queen Victoria, and the tradition of distributing shamrocks, which symbolize Ireland and the Holy Trinity, has continued since 1901. The shamrock is known for its three heart-shaped leaves, and each year, shamrocks are distributed to soldiers in the Irish Guards, a regiment of the British Armed Forces. During wartime, shamrocks have been sent to soldiers serving on active duty, often placed inside their helmets for good luck. For those stationed at home, the highest honor is receiving the shamrock directly from a senior royal.
The duty of presenting the shamrocks became a hallmark of the Queen Mother and continued with Princess Anne for some time. However, since 2012, Kate Middleton has taken on this responsibility, particularly after Prince William became the Royal Regiment Colonel.
In 2023, Kate was appointed the Honorary Regiment Colonel of the Irish Guards, succeeding her husband. William, dressed in his Irish Guards Frock Coat, delivered a heartfelt speech on the occasion, expressing his emotions about stepping aside from the role. He called it “one of the great honours of my life” and assured the soldiers that they would have Kate’s unwavering support.
Each year, the parade features around 400 soldiers marching across Parade Square, followed by a traditional group photo with the royal couple. After the event, William and Kate attend a special reception. Notably, in 2019, the couple shared a touching moment with Domhnall, the Irish wolfhound mascot of the Irish Guards. They had met Domhnall on several occasions, and his role in leading the parade added an extra layer of tradition to the day.
Kate’s commitment to this event has brought a renewed attention to the tradition and solidified her role in keeping this century-old royal ritual alive.
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