The Princess of Wales looked radiant in turquoise this morning as she stepped out with Prince William for the St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot.
Kate, 41, attended the event for the first time in her capacity as Colonel of the Irish Guards, following her action-packed day carrying out training drills with them last week.
However, whereas last week she stunned in a camouflage chic outfit as she got stuck in with an emergency medical exercise, today the Princess was elegant in a structured outfit with a hat and fascinator.
Against a backdrop of miserable weather, Kate was a stunning flash of colour in a bespoke turquoise Catherine Walker coat complete with a frilled heart-shaped fascinator costing £1,450 from Jane Taylor and proudly displayed a Cartier shamrock brooch on her chest.
The coat, which was custom-made, matched the shade of the Irish Guards’ blue plume. It featured structured shoulders, a buttoned-down middle and was belted at the waist to enhance Kate’s svelte figure.
The Princess of Wales looked radiant in turquoise as she arrived at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot this morning on her first event since becoming colonel of the Irish Guards. Upon arrival, Kate was given a sprig of shamrocks to wear on her coat, before she handed out the plant to the soldiers
Her long brunette locks flowed down her back, while her make-up was minimal to enhance her natural beauty.
The mother-of-three kept her jewellery simple with a pair of emerald earrings which she has worn several times before.
As part of the parade, Kate handed out sprigs of shamrocks to officers and guardsmen, which were then distributed among the ranks – and, of course, the Irish Wolfhound mascot for the regiment receives one too.
While the shamrock sprigs were given out, the Prince and Princess of Wales fell apart laughing as Prince William’s shamrocks were placed on his hat.
Dressed in a military uniform, William was pictured in hysterics as the bright green foliage was placed on his hat, leaving his wife in fits of laughter as well.
Kate looked radiant and regal in a bespoke Catherine Walker coat, a Jane Taylor hat costing £1,450 and a Cartier shamrock brooch gifted to her by the Irish Guards
Larking about: The Prince and Princess of Wales erupted in laughter as Prince William’s shamrock sprig was placed on his hat
A flash of turquoise! The Princess of Wales stood out in her bright outfit as she sat alongside the officers and guards who were dressed in black and khaki
Kate stood out in her symbolic outfit, the shade of which matches the colour of the Irish Guards’ blue plume of feathers
The Princess of Wales looked excited for the event as she sat down to watch the parade in her first since becoming colonel
Cracking jokes: The Prince of Wales appeared to say something that made one of the officers chuckle
The royals and officers of the Irish Guards seemed to be in high spirits ahead of the parade, despite the dreary weather
The Princess of Wales beamed as she got ready to watch the parade while sat next to officers and guards
The Princess of Wales looked excited to sit down ahead of the parade as she carried out her duties as colonel of the Irish Guards
While at Mons Barracks, the Princess of Wales addressed the regiment on stage while Prince William looked on
Kate looked confident and elegant as she took to the stage and enjoyed a brief moment of cover from the rain
The Princess looked regal as she and William stood together under cover ahead of the St Patrick’s Day Parade
However, the placement of the sprigs appeared to be traditional as other officers and guards also displayed the sprigs on their hats.
And Kate also seemed thrilled to meet the Irish wolfhound, the mascot for the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards, who was wearing a red blanket/coat to shelter from the rain.
The Princess made a fuss of the dog and stroked its chin as it lapped up the royal attention.
Following the parade, the Prince and Princess of Wales will meet with the Irish Guards Association which comprises of past members of the Irish Guards.
Kate will be invited to inspect the front rank, while William will inspect the second rank.
Following the inspection, the Prince and Princess will meet members of the regiment before sitting for official photographs.
The weather didn’t hold up for the royal couple, as they were pictured standing together while the rain pattered down
Photographers holding umbrellas could be seen in the background amid dreary weather as the Prince and Princess of Wales took to the stage
The Prince of Wales, who was wearing military dress, attended the St Patrick’s Day event and was gifted a shamrock sprig which was placed on his hat
Several wicker baskets containing shamrock sprigs were laid out on the table before they were handed out to soldiers in the regiment
Kate and William exchanged what looked like a formal meeting as William attended the parade in his role as outgoing colonel of the Irish guards
Kate and William could barely control their giggles as they fell about chuckling over the shamrock sprigs
The Princess of Wales made a fuss of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards mascot, an Irish Wolfhound dog
The Princess of Wales stroked the Irish Wolfhound’s chin, who was wearing a red coat, and made a fuss of him
The look of love! Kate flashed her husband Prince William a winning smile as he joined her at the Barracks
Despite rain pouring down, dutiful Kate had a huge smile on her face while she handed out the shamrock sprig
The Princess of Wales looked elegant and sleek in the turquoise outfit as she handed out the sprig
The Princess attended the event as her first St Patrick’s Day Parade since she became colonel of the Irish Guards
As rain hammered down, the Princess of Wales protected her brunette locks with her Jane Taylor hat and frilled fascinator
The Princess of Wales chatted to the soldier while handing him a shamrock sprig, ignoring the rain pattering down
The hard-working Princess of Wales beamed as she handed over the shamrock sprig to the soldier
Kate’s appearance at the St Patrick’s Day Parade is her first since she became colonel of the Irish Guards
The Princess, 41, met with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in a training drill last week in which she wore a sensible camouflage outfit, but was dressed for the occasion today
They will also visit the Junior Ranks dining hall where the senior guardsmen in the Battalion will propose a toast to the couple.
Last week, the Princess of Wales attended the Salisbury Plain Training Area where she carried out military-style drills on her first official visit to the regiment as colonel.
With her hair pulled back into a sensible French braid, she got stuck into a battlefield casualty drill.
Crouching in the snow, she held the soldier’s leg as she was shown how to wrap the wound and check the casualty’s vital signs during basic battlefield first aid training.
As she placed a tourniquet – used to stop heavy bleeding – on his calf, the Princess apologised and said: ‘It’s the first time I’ve done this’.
Her appearance marked the first time Kate has visited the Irish Guards in her new position as honorary Colonel – she was promoted to her first Army role in December, taking over the position from Prince William.
Kate enthusiastically asked questions about the different first aid methods used by medics in the Army as she tended to the fake injury during the casualty simulation. She then applied a second tourniquet and Celox gauze – also used to stop bleeding – to the soldier with the fake leg injury and chest gunshot wound.
Kate patiently waited as the guards handed her a wicker basket containing shamrock sprigs which she then handed over
Mother-of-three Kate looked in her element as she arrived in Aldershot ahead of the Parade, which is her first since becoming colonel of the Irish Guards
The Princess of Wales was a bright flash of colour as she stepped out of the car against a grey background
As she was greeted in a military salute, Kate smiled back at the soldier as she arrived at Mons Barracks
Kate, 41, beamed as she arrived in Aldershot and proudly displayed a gold shamrock brooch on her teal coat
The Princess was a bright flash of colour amid a grey, rainy backdrop as she stepped out of the car and was greeted with a military salute
Kate arrived at the event as colonel of the Irish Guards following her visit to a training ground in Salisbury last week to run drills with the regiment
The Princess of Wales looked radiant in teal as she arrived at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot this morning on her first event since becoming colonel of the Irish Guards
Kate beamed as she stepped out of the car into the dreary weather, paying no attention to the rain
Lance Corporal Jodie Newell, 25, who was in charge of teaching the Princess first aid, said: ‘I was so nervous – I’m teaching the Princess of Wales med [medicine] – it was an honour.
‘We were just showing her what we medics do in the Army. She was actually really good, really eager to take part.’ L/Cpl Newell added that Kate took it ‘all in her stride, like she has done it before’ and that it was ‘amazing’ to have her visit the training area, particularly on International Women’s Day.
Afterwards the Princess said that taking part in military first aid exercises brought the realities of their training ‘to life’.
She said that the battlefield casualty drills, complete with fake gun fire and explosions, ‘just brought it all to life’.
The Princess also learnt about anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mine clearance and viewed the weapons systems used by the Irish Guards. As part of the visit, she met guardsmen of No 1 and No 2 companies, who told her about their recent experiences training park rangers in East Africa in methods to counter poaching.