FROM THE WEBSITE: The Irish Guards – known affectionately throughout the Army as ‘the Micks’ – is an Irish regiment which has proven its loyalty and grit on many tough operations. Its soldiers also have the privilege of guarding royal palaces.
St Patrick’s Day is the traditional celebration of the Irish Guards. On this day each year members of the regiment are presented with fresh shamrock from The Princess of Wales.
When they’re not deployed on operations the Irish Guards can be found all over the world training and exploring. They can also be found at royal palaces from time to time sporting the famous red tunic and bearskin cap.
INFORMATION:
— The Duke of Cambridge became Colonel in February 2011.
— The Princess of Wales became Colonel in December 2022.
QUOTES
“I really couldn’t be prouder to stand in front of you here today. 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.” – The Princess of Wales
EFFORTS:
June 25, 2011 – Irish Guards Medal Parade – The Duchess of Cambridge took on her first military role as a member of the royal family passing out medals to soldiers who have recently returned from serving in Afghanistan at the Victoria Barracks in Windsor, United Kingdom. Before the medal parade William and Catherine met privately with the families of three fallen servicemen and the Duke presented them posthumous Elizabeth Cross medals.
March 17, 2012 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – In her first solo her first solo military engagement, The Duchess of Cambridge presented shamrocks to forty members of the 1st Battalion Irish guards at their St Patrick’s Day parade. After the presentation the Duchess toured the barracks, and enjoyed a glass of sherry in the junior mess with the soldiers.
March 17, 2013 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mons Barracks, Aldershot for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers, guardsmen and Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ wolfhound mascot.
March 17, 2014 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mons Barracks, Aldershot for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers, guardsmen and Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ wolfhound mascot. After the parade, William and Catherine toasted the regiment with a glass of sherry and met families of the soldiers in the mess hall.
March 17, 2015 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mons Barracks, Aldershot for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers, guardsmen and Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ wolfhound mascot. Afterwards, the guardsman proposed a toast to the Duke and Duchess in the mess hall.
March 17, 2017 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mons Barracks, Aldershot for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers, guardsmen and Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ wolfhound mascot. After the parade, William and Catherine toasted the regiment with a glass of Guinness and met families of the soldiers in the mess hall.
March 17, 2018 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mons Barracks, Aldershot for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Catherine presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers, guardsmen and Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ wolfhound mascot. After the parade, William and Catherine toasted the regiment and met with soliders and their families.
March 17, 2019 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the 1st Battalion Irish Guards for the St Patrick’s Day Parade at Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow. The parade began with the Last Post, before a minute of silence was observed in memory of the 50 victims killed in the attacks on two mosques in New Zealand. 350 soldiers marched on the Parade Square at Cavalry Barracks. Leading the procession was Irish wolfhound and regimental mascot Domnhall, whom the Duchess stroked while presenting him with a shamrock. Domhnal has been in the battalion since 2012 and is a fan favorite.
March 17, 2022 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have celebrated St Patrick’s Day at a special parade in Aldershot. The shamrock ceremony took place at the British Army’s Mons Barracks, with Prince William and Kate presenting Seamr?g, traditional sprigs of shamrock, to the Irish Guards.
March 08, 2023 – The Princess of Wales Visits The 1st Battalion Irish Guards – The Princess of Wales braved freezing temperatures and snow to help administer first aid to a ‘wounded’ soldier as part of an exercise on Salisbury Plain. In the drill, members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were on foot patrol when they came under fire from an enemy. Catherine assisted Lance Corporal Jodie Newell in administering first aid, applying a tourniquet to his lower left leg to stop the bleeding. She also helped assess him for further injuries to his torso. During her visit, the Princess took a tour of the Salisbury Plain training area, where she met guardsmen who have been deployed on security work in Africa, which includes training park rangers on counter-poaching operations. She also received a briefing on counter-explosive ordnance – the de-mining training being delivered by the Irish Guards to Ukrainian armed forces. She also viewed several of the different types of weapons used by the Irish Guards.
March 17, 2023 – The Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – The Prince of Wales, outgoing Colonel, Irish Guards, was accompanied by The Princess of Wales, incoming Colonel, to visit the Irish Guards at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot. During the parade, The Prince and Princess both gave speeches. The parade concluded with a Royal Salute and march-past where The Princess of Wales took the salute as the new Colonel. Following the parade, Their Royal Highnesses met the Irish Guards Association, which comprises of past members of the Irish Guards. The Prince and Princess also members of the Regiment before sitting for official Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess photographs. The visit finished at the Junior Ranks dining hall where the Senior Guardsman in the Battalion proposed a toast to Their Royal Highnesses.
