The Princess of Wales may not have been there in person, but the Irish Guards still saluted her when they assembled for their annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.
The royal traditionally hands out shamrocks during the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day parade at Aldershot, though this year, owing to her recent surgery and recuperation, she was forced to miss the celebrations.
Instead, Lady Ghika presented the shamrocks to the Regiment. Lady Ghika is the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Major General Sir Christopher Ghika, their Regimental Colonel and the recently-retired Major-General Commanding the Household Division.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut while their royal colonel couldn’t be in attendance, it didn’t mean that the regiment did not recognise Catherine. At the end of their parade, the Irish Guards gave three cheers for the Princess of Wales.
The British Army tweeted: “In keeping with tradition wherever they are in the world the @irish_guards give a rousing three cheers for the Colonel of the Regiment HRH the Princess of Wales at their St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot.”
The Kensington Palace social media accounts posted a video earlier Sunday of the Irish Guards rehearsing, captioning it: “Happy St Patrick’s Day… Sláinte to all those celebrating today!”
Last year, her first as Colonel, Catherine gave a short speech in which she said: “It really is a true honour to be your Colonel. I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do—this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.”
Catherine took over as Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, succeeding her husband who had been Colonel from 2011. Prior to her appointment, Catherine routinely handed out shamrocks at the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
