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The Independent
17-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Kate buys round of drinks to mark 125 years of Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day
The Princess of Wales bought a round of drinks for troops at Wellington Barracks to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Kate made the touching gesture during her first return to the parade ground since she revealed her cancer diagnosis last year. Money was put behind the bars serving junior guardsmen and officers at the military barracks in Westminster, central London, to mark the Irish Guards' 125th anniversary. Before the parade, Kate, who is colonel of the regiment presented operational medals to soldiers recently deployed in Iraq, recognising their service overseas. She also awarded long service and good conduct medals to two soldiers during a ceremony in the officers' mess. The princess – dressed in a bottle-green coat and percher hat – then joined the regiment for their traditional parade, taking her place on the saluting dais as soldiers from Number 9 Company, Number 12 Company and the Rear Operations Group marched onto the parade square, led by their Irish wolfhound mascot, Turlough Mor. Following tradition, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrock to officers, warrant officers and the mascot. Following tradition, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrock to officers, warrant officers and the mascot. Huge crowds braved the biting cold to gather at the gates of Wellington Barracks and catch a glimpse of the ceremony. Kate missed the Guards' celebrations last year after being diagnosed with cancer. Meanwhile, officers from the regiment deployed in eastern England paused their training of Ukrainian troops to present shamrocks to their recruits as part of Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills to Ukrainian soldiers. The Irish Guards have played a key role in the programme, which has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits since Russia's full-scale invasion. During the parade, a tribute was paid to soldiers stationed in eastern England, with Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark describing St Patrick's Day as 'a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our regimental ethos and identity'. After the parade, Kate posed for official photographs with the regiment. She laughed and joked with soldiers as two children playfully held up the pictures, before joining soldiers in the junior ranks' cookhouse, where she enjoyed a half pint of Guinness. Nursing the drink, she chatted with soldiers about their experiences on deployment. She said: 'Being able to manage that work-life balance – it's tough.' Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the toast, said afterwards: 'She wanted to know how things were going with the blokes in general. 'She was really nice and really warm. I was kind of flustered. 'You could tell she had a genuine interest in us.' Kate later visited the sergeants' mess, where she met families of soldiers and heard about their experiences. She told Corporal Adam Hamilton, from Australia, about her fondness for the country. She said: 'I loved our trip to Australia. 'There are so many opportunities now to travel. 'We tend to go further afield when it's official visits. 'George always finds it fascinating that we've been there.' The princess last made an official royal visit to the country in 2014 with William and George – who was just a baby at the time. Adam's wife, Grace Hamilton, said afterwards: 'We spoke about Australia. 'She looks into your eyes when she speaks to you. 'It just shows she's giving you her full attention.' The day's celebrations concluded with a toast in the officers' and sergeants' mess, where Lt Col Irwin-Clark praised the regiment's 'commitment to operations worldwide' and reflected on its proud 125-year history. In 2023, Kate visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day with the Prince of Wales at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, after taking over the role of colonel from William. Last year, the guardsman gave three cheers for their absent colonel while the princess was away from public duties after abdominal surgery.
Sky News
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Kate, Princess of Wales enjoys Guinness at St Patrick's Day event - and buys round of drinks for troops
The Princess of Wales has been celebrating St Patrick's Day with a half-pint of Guinness. Kate, dressed in a bottle-green coat and percher hat, presented shamrock to officers of the Irish Guards at a parade in Wellington Barracks, central London. She also bought a round of drinks for the troops, with money put behind the bars serving junior guardsmen and officers to mark the Irish Guards' 125th anniversary. The princess presented operational medals to soldiers recently deployed in Iraq and awarded long service and good conduct medals to two soldiers. Kate also met the regiment's mascot, Irish wolfhound Turlough Mor. Huge crowds braved the biting cold to gather at the gates of Wellington Barracks and catch a glimpse of the ceremony. Kate, who is colonel of the regiment, missed the Guards' celebrations last year after being diagnosed with cancer. After Monday's parade, the princess posed for official photographs with the regiment. She laughed and joked with soldiers as two children playfully held up the pictures, before joining soldiers in the junior ranks' cookhouse, where she enjoyed some Guinness. Nursing the drink, she chatted with soldiers about their experiences on deployment. She said: "Being able to manage that work-life balance - it's tough." Kate later visited the sergeants' mess, where she met families of soldiers and heard about their experiences. Meanwhile, officers from the regiment deployed in eastern England paused their training of Ukrainian troops to present shamrocks to their recruits as part of Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills to Ukrainian soldiers. The Irish Guards have played a key role in the programme, which has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Millions of people in Ireland and around the world are celebrating their Irish heritage and the country's patron saint today.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kate buys round of drinks to mark 125 years of Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day
The Princess of Wales bought a round of drinks for troops at Wellington Barracks to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Kate made the touching gesture during her first return to the parade ground since she revealed her cancer diagnosis last year. Money was put behind the bars serving junior guardsmen and officers at the military barracks in Westminster, central London, to mark the Irish Guards' 125th anniversary. Before the parade, Kate, who is colonel of the regiment presented operational medals to soldiers recently deployed in Iraq, recognising their service overseas. She also awarded long service and good conduct medals to two soldiers during a ceremony in the officers' mess. The princess – dressed in a bottle-green coat and percher hat – then joined the regiment for their traditional parade, taking her place on the saluting dais as soldiers from Number 9 Company, Number 12 Company and the Rear Operations Group marched onto the parade square, led by their Irish wolfhound mascot, Turlough Mor. Following tradition, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrock to officers, warrant officers and the mascot. Following tradition, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrock to officers, warrant officers and the mascot. Huge crowds braved the biting cold to gather at the gates of Wellington Barracks and catch a glimpse of the ceremony. Kate missed the Guards' celebrations last year after being diagnosed with cancer. Meanwhile, officers from the regiment deployed in eastern England paused their training of Ukrainian troops to present shamrocks to their recruits as part of Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills to Ukrainian soldiers. The Irish Guards have played a key role in the programme, which has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits since Russia's full-scale invasion. During the parade, a tribute was paid to soldiers stationed in eastern England, with Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark describing St Patrick's Day as 'a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our regimental ethos and identity'. After the parade, Kate posed for official photographs with the regiment. She laughed and joked with soldiers as two children playfully held up the pictures, before joining soldiers in the junior ranks' cookhouse, where she enjoyed a half pint of Guinness. Nursing the drink, she chatted with soldiers about their experiences on deployment. She said: 'Being able to manage that work-life balance – it's tough.' Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the toast, said afterwards: 'She wanted to know how things were going with the blokes in general. 'She was really nice and really warm. I was kind of flustered. 'You could tell she had a genuine interest in us.' Kate later visited the sergeants' mess, where she met families of soldiers and heard about their experiences. She told Corporal Adam Hamilton, from Australia, about her fondness for the country. She said: 'I loved our trip to Australia. 'There are so many opportunities now to travel. 'We tend to go further afield when it's official visits. 'George always finds it fascinating that we've been there.' The princess last made an official royal visit to the country in 2014 with William and George – who was just a baby at the time. Adam's wife, Grace Hamilton, said afterwards: 'We spoke about Australia. 'She looks into your eyes when she speaks to you. 'It just shows she's giving you her full attention.' The day's celebrations concluded with a toast in the officers' and sergeants' mess, where Lt Col Irwin-Clark praised the regiment's 'commitment to operations worldwide' and reflected on its proud 125-year history. In 2023, Kate visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day with the Prince of Wales at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, after taking over the role of colonel from William. Last year, the guardsman gave three cheers for their absent colonel while the princess was away from public duties after abdominal surgery.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Princess of Wales puts money behind bar for Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day
The Princess of Wales put money behind the bar for soldiers as she took part in her first solo St Patrick's Day parade as Colonel of the Irish Guards. The Princess, wearing a bottle green coat and matching hat, with the regimental brooch, smiled as she was greeted on arrival at Wellington Barracks and later caught up with the troop over half a pint of Guinness. She told soldiers and their families how much she had missed taking part in last year's ceremony as she presented operational medals to those who have recently returned from deployment in Iraq. Revealing she had put money behind the bar, the Princess said: 'It's the least I can do.' During a private ceremony in the officers' mess, the Princess awarded long service and good conduct medals to soldiers in recognition of their commitment to the Army. The presentations took place ahead of the annual St Patrick's Day parade, during which the Princess presented officers with the traditional sprigs of shamrock and was given one in return, which she attached to her lapel. She later bent down to pet Turlough Mor, the regiment's Irish wolfhound mascot. In 2023, the Princess was joined by the Prince of Wales for a visit to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, shortly after taking over the role of colonel from her husband. Monday's parade comes after the Prince and Princess attended the Wales v England Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. The Princess was supporting England in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union, while the Prince is patron of Welsh Rugby Union. England beat Wales 68 – 14. Earlier on Monday, the Princess, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, congratulated Jack Draper, the British tennis player, on winning the Indian Wells title, the biggest of his career so far. The Princess wrote on X: 'Congratulations, Jack. A fantastic performance. Well Done. C.'
