The Princess of Wales selected long-favored designers for immediately’s St. Patrick’s Day parade with the Irish Guards. 
This was the primary time the Princess attended the parade as Colonel of the Regiment, an appointment made final December. The Prince of Wales was there in his function because the outgoing Colonel of the Guards; he’s now Colonel of the Welsh Guards. 
As you’ll be able to see, it was a considerably sodden day. 
After receiving her personal shamrock sprig, the Princess was prepared to begin presenting them to Officers and Guardsmen. 
Extra concerning the custom from the Ministry of Defence.
Though the Irish have noticed St. Patrick’s Day for hundreds of years it wasn’t formally celebrated by the British Military till 1900, when HM Queen Victoria decreed the sporting of the shamrock as formal recognition of the bravery of her Irish troopers in the course of the Boer Warfare.
We return to the MOD’s backgrounder.
On 14 March 1900, Natal Military Orders issued an instruction: ‘Her Majesty the Queen is happy to order that in future on Saint Patrick’s Day all ranks in Her Majesty’s Irish Regiments shall put on as a distinction a sprig of shamrock of their headdress to commemorate the gallantry of Her Irish troopers in the course of the current battles in South Africa’.
One other view. 
A fast video from Rebecca Russell of My London.
The Princess of Wales has arrived at Mons Barracks in Aldershot to take the salute because the Colonel of the Irish Guards on #StPatricksDay 🍀 pic.twitter.com/9ankXe7E59
— Rebecca Russell (@RMRussell29) March 17, 2023
The final to obtain his shamrocks is all the time a favourite, Séamus, the Regiment’s mascot. 
His title is formally “Turlough Mór,” and he was skilled with the Royal Military Veterinary Corps.
I imagine that’s Drummer Adam Walsh, the canine’s handler, in all of those images with Séamus.
A fast video of Séamus was shared on the Kensington Palace social media accounts.
Strolling to get your shamrock on St Patrick’s Day like 🫡 pic.twitter.com/7r0go5mxyS
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 17, 2023
One other view of the Princess at immediately’s ceremonies.
After the shamrocks had been introduced, there was a parade. 
The parade concluded with a Royal Salute and march-past, the place the Princess took the salute because the Regiment’s new Colonel.
Each royals additionally delivered remarks immediately. As famous by the British Military in its protection of the occasion, “Their Royal Highnesses every made speeches, one in all thanks and farewell, the opposite of dedication and promise.”
From Prince William’s speech.
On this, my thirteenth and last St Patrick’s Day as Colonel, not solely am I saddened that I’ll possible fail as soon as once more to complete a pint of Guinness… however I’m additionally unhappy that I received’t in future see extra of you, the households, whose unwavering assist allows these excellent women and men to do what they do.”
I’m pleased with all the pieces [the regiment] stands for – simply as I’m immensely pleased with each single one in all you. I could also be stepping apart, however in Colonel Catherine you’ve a dedicated, centered, and already extremely loyal eleventh Colonel.
As you serve collectively through the years forward, know that I’ll proceed to observe you, with large pleasure in having been one in all you.
The Princess then spoke. 
From her remarks:
I actually couldn’t be prouder to face in entrance of you right here immediately. It truly is a real honour to be your Colonel. I’m right here to hearken to you, to assist you, and to champion you in all you do – this can be a accountability I don’t take frivolously.
I stay up for spending extra time with you and your households, seeing your dedication to obligation and repair in all you do.
The Princess referenced a coaching train she took half in with the Guards final week, saying, “All I noticed was enthusiasm, pleasure, and unbelievable dedication.”
I used to be massively impressed together with your insistence that nothing is as unhealthy because it appears, and – most of all – your boundless, irreverent, superb sense of humour. That’s what makes you who you’re and what makes the Irish Guards distinctive.
The Princess additionally thanked her husband:‘Earlier than I shut, nevertheless, I wish to thank Colonel William. He has all the time talked about his fierce pleasure for this Regiment. I do know he’ll proceed to assist us all within the work we do.” Beneath, the couple shares fun. 
The Guards eliminated their caps and gave three cheers to the Prince of Wales after which three cheers to their new Colonel, The Princess of Wales.
The Guards famous that “The nationwide saint’s day is a spotlight of the Irish Guards’ calendar the place all generations collect for a regimental celebration, however to witness the formal handover of tasks of Regimental Colonel from The Prince of Wales to his spouse, The Princess of Wales, made this yr’s occasion additional particular.”
The royals sat for official pictures commemorating the day. 
Additionally they frolicked with members of the Regiment. 
And so they met members of the family. 
Beneath, the Princess with Aoife, age six, and Alice, age 4, daughters of Warrant Officer Alistair Wigley and his associate. 
A fast video through The Solar’s Matt Wilkinson.
The brand new Colonel of the Irish Guards with Aoife, 6, and Alice, 4, daughters of WO2 Alistair Wigley, immediately in Aldershot pic.twitter.com/kHkSulseVm
— Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) March 17, 2023
The Prince and Princess had been proven a brand new regimental portray of the Irish Guards by artist Louise Pragnell, which was painted this yr within the state rooms of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. (I feel that’s Ms. Pragnell on the far left.) 
The Couple visited the Guardsman’s lunch.
And took half in a toast.
The Princess having fun with time with the Guards. 
Now for our take a look at what the Regiment’s new Colonel wore for immediately’s ceremonies. 
The Every day Mail experiences the model is a Catherine Walker model, showcasing a number of signature design parts seen in Catherine Walker items. The coat encompasses a slim silhouette with princess seams, a stand collar, angled pleats on the higher bodice, a deep again vent, connected waistband, and flared cuffs. The units of 4 buttons echo these on the Guards’ uniforms, that are organized in teams of 4.
Beneath the coat, the Princess wore an identical costume. When it comes to immediately’s shade selection for the Princess, you’ll be able to see how vibrant the colour was among the many brown and black uniforms in a small group photograph. 
It additionally popped within the a lot bigger group photos. 
Extra on the colour from this Folks story.
Whereas the Princess of Wales normally marks the occasion sporting inexperienced, the colour most carefully related to the vacation, she made a shocking choice to put on a teal Catherine Walker & Co coat costume with matching equipment for the event this yr.
Whereas the colour selection was actually surprising, there’s a intelligent cause for it. Princess Kate’s ensemble completely matched the plumes worn within the bearskin caps by the first Battalion Irish Guards. The plume being St. Patrick’s blue was chosen as a result of that’s the shade of the mantle and sash of the Order of St. Patrick.
Right here you see immediately’s look and one of many Regiment’s bearskin hats seen for ceremonial parade occasions. (The photograph on the precise reveals Prince William at Trooping the color final yr.)
Extra about St. Patrick blue from Smithsonian Journal:
…the earliest depictions of St. Patrick present him clothed in blue clothes, not inexperienced, and that when George III created a brand new order of chivalry for the Kingdom of Eire, the Order of St. Patrick, its official shade was a sky blue, referred to as “St. Patrick’s Blue.”
Extra data on the colour could also be seen right here and right here.
With due to Polka Popp for the ID, the hat is by Jane Taylor, a bespoke model of the milliner’s Vesper model ($1083). It’s described as “a wonderfully dramatic heart-shaped cocktail hat…[with] an arresting tonal pleated ombre crin detailing that offers it an animated accent.” 
The Princess carried a brand new (to us, at the very least) clutch by go-to designer Emmy London. It seems just like the Natasha clutch in ‘Lake’ suede ($415), with due to Middleton Maven for this ID. I have no idea who made the gloves carried immediately. 
The Princess wore coordinating footwear that appear to be a pair of bespoke Gianvito 105 pumps. Carly from Kate Middleton Type posted a wonderful comparability with the model’s lower-heeled model, the Gianvito 85 in a shade referred to as ‘Persian.’ It very a lot seems like the colour worn immediately by the Princess within the higher-heel peak she is keen on. Within the montage under, I present the model within the 85mm heel peak found by Carly; it’s accessible at Savannah’s.
The Princess wore her UFO diamond and emerald earrings. 
The Princess wore the Cartier shamrock brooch owned by the Irish Guards and loaned to royal girls participating in ceremonial duties. I included a photograph of the brooch worn on one other event as a result of it reveals the piece’s particulars a lot better. On the precise is a photograph exhibiting the opening on the entrance of the Princess’s coat used to affix her shamrocks. 
You possibly can simply see the opening for the shamrocks on this photograph, to the precise of the buttons. 
Kensington Palace posted a message on social media following immediately’s engagement.
From outgoing to incoming Colonel, we’ll proceed to assist and champion you in all you do. pic.twitter.com/zFW3wKWaiW
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 17, 2023
VIDEOS:
The Royal Household Channel affords nearly 4 minutes protection of immediately’s occasions on this video.
On this video from the Press Affiliation’s Catherine Wilkinson, you’ll be able to hear the band enjoying music from the Riverdance rating.
The band of the Irish Guards performs music from @Riverdance because the Princess of Wales palms out sprigs of shamrock in Aldershot on St Patrick’s Day. pic.twitter.com/aCc66ClXMx
— Catherine Wylie (@wyliecatherine) March 17, 2023
