St Patrick's Day 2015: Kate beams as she awards shamrocks to Irish Guards

 
Smiling duchess: Kate met cadets during her visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards (Picture: Getty)
Robert Jobson17 March 2015

The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she presented shamrocks to soldiers from the Irish Guards to mark St Patrick’s Day today.

She arrived at the military barracks with her husband, the Duke of Cambridge.

Kate, 33, handed out baskets of shamrocks to officers and guardsmen of the regiment in Mons Barracks, Aldershot, Hampshire.

And she was pinning a traditional sprig on the silver collar of the regiment’s beloved mascot, Irish wolfhound Domhnall.

The three-year-old dog, which weighs 11-and-a-half stone, is also treated to a sip of Guinness after the ceremony.

The Duchess laughs after being presented with a shamrock

Kate, who is due to give birth next month, covered her bump in a brown coat by Catherine Walker and wore a matching brown hat by Lock & Co for the century-old ceremony.

Pinned to her coat was the gold shamrock brooch which was originally presented by the Irish Guards to the Queen Mother, who traditionally led the ceremony during her life.

William, 32, attended the traditional parade as colonel of the regiment and wore a navy blue frock coat.

Soldiers gave three loud cheers for William and Kate before the royal salute (Picture: Getty)

The ceremony was inaugurated in 1901 by Queen Alexandra, wife of the then-king, Edward VII.

Ever since then, a senior female member of the Royal Family has carried it out.

Some 200 soldiers, led by the Band of the Irish Guards, marched on to the parade square at their base for the annual celebration.

Members of their proud families watched as the soldiers were given the sprigs.

The soldiers gave three loud cheers for William and Kate before the royal salute.

Some 200 soldiers marched for the annual celebration

The presentation was much smaller this year as the battalion has troops deployed all over the world.

But wherever they are, every Irish guardsman will receive a sprig of shamrock, which has been shipped out specially.

In the past the presentation was carried out by the Queen Mother, but also by the Princess Royal and many others over the years, in many different countries.

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