The Prince and Princess of Wales made an elegant appearance today at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot, England.
While there, Prince William and Kate Middleton—who is the new Colonel of the Irish Guards—joined the regiment in the celebration and honored Ireland with their ensembles.
They both gave speeches at the event. William bid the Irish Guards farewell as he passed the title onto Kate. “It has been one of the great honors of my life to hold that title,” he said. “I may be stepping aside, but in Colonel Catherine you have a committed, focused, and already incredibly loyal 11th Colonel.”
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Kate said, “I really couldn’t be prouder to stand in front of you here today. It really is a true honor 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.”
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For the occasion, Kate wore a stunning teal coat dress by Catherine Walker & Co with sharp shoulders, a mock turtleneck collar, long sleeves, and large buttons at the front. She styled it with teal suede Gianvito Rossi pumps and a matching Jane Taylor London fascinator with a dramatic pleated chiffon embellishment.
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Kate also paid tribute to Ireland in her accessories, which included diamond drop earrings with green stones, her sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring, and a fresh green leaf-and-clover arrangement, which she wore as a brooch. She also wore a gold Cartier shamrock brooch, which is said to be owned by the Irish Guards and loaned to the royal women associated with the regiment. Kate has worn it exclusively since 2011, though it was previously donned by Princess Anne and the Queen Mother.
William also wore a fresh clover arrangement pinned to his military cap. The prince dressed in full military attire, as is custom, for the event.
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The princess was recently given the role of colonel by King Charles III. William is now the Colonel of the Welsh Guards, as he is the Prince of Wales.
The parade marks Kate’s second outing with the Irish Guards since becoming colonel of the regiment. Just last week, she visited some of the troops in bound Salisbury Plain Training Area wearing full camo.
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Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper’s Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.
