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Kate Middleton to hand out shamrocks to Irish Guard on St. Patrick’s Day

1st battalion of Prince William’s regiment will receive shamrocks & Irish wolf hound mascot

BERNIE MALONE,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, March 9, 2012, 7:38 AM

Updated Friday, March 9, 2012, 7:44 AM

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Photo by �2011 RAMEY

Kate Middleton, now Duchess Catherine of Cambridge, is set for her first solo military engagement on St. Patrick’s Day (17th March).

Middleton will hand out shamrocks to 40 officers and warrant officers who will then issue them to the Irish Guards. Prince William holds the rank of colonel in the regiment and wore the red Irish guard uniform on their wedding day.

The Belfast Newsletter reports that this is a century old tradition started by Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward the VII, in 1901.

During the event 450 soldiers will march into the square at the Mons Barracks at Aldershot in wearing their scarlet tunics and bearskin hats.

The Band of the Irish Guards will follow them along with Conmael, the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot. He will also receive a sprig of shamrock from Kate.

On 19th March Kate will undertake her first public speech at the opening of The Treehouse, a hospice service in Suffolk and Essex.

Nster.com

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eoin edward | Mar 17, 2012, 11:23 PM EDT

Hi Sharon, tbh the monarchy (the government) would have to apologise to the English as well. Why do you think so many English ended up in America? There is a nice painting, The Last of England, by someone called Ford Madox Brown, it's from 1855 (I had to cheat and look up the details). Anyway, you should see it. Happy St Patrick's Day.

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Sparklet | Mar 16, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

It's hardly Kate's place to apologise. It would look and sound ridiculous coming from a girl who isn't royal by blood. And QE did apologise, even if cryptically, on her visit. Trevelyan and co. are dead and gone by the way.

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Murph46 | Mar 16, 2012, 04:54 PM EDT

Jaysus Niall,how often are you printing these hokey stories?

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sharoneileen | Mar 13, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT

It's just a standing ceremony, don't get all mushy about it. Still I wait for the apology. Remember Trevelian, starvation, genocide? Sorry but I have been up to my neck in Irish research for my people who were forced to leave I have a strong feeling about it today. Hey, Kate, hows about that apology?

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FallsRNat | Mar 12, 2012, 04:03 PM EDT

my missus not withstanding, she can give me a shamrock anyday.

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IrelandNorth | Mar 12, 2012, 08:34 AM EDT

The English-British never left Ireland. Even after partition, they kept the St. Patrick's cross in their union flag, despite the Irish leaving their union. They continued recruiting ambivalent Irish nationalists willing to accept the 'Saxon-shilling', to blur the distinction between Britian and Ireland. They continue to purloin our cultural motifs, rather than give up on their imperial erotic fantasy. I note she gives shamrick to the officer class, rather than have to handle the great unwashed bog Irish.

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citizen69 | Mar 09, 2012, 02:34 PM EST

The Royal Irish Rangers are another regiment that are presented with shamrock on St. Patrick's day no matter where they are in the world. They wear it with pride in their corbeen. It was actually Irish Soldiers in the British Army who held the first St Patrick's day parades in New York.

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hermitTalker | Mar 09, 2012, 01:14 PM EST

Nice touch. President Obama, Irish on his mother's side, had to correct an error or correcting the four-leafed clover, for the shamrock- a frequent USA error as it confuses "the luck of the Irish" with the "lucky" four-leafed clover. The tiny shamrock has only the solid green colour, clover has whitish-specks on it. The Ireland-UK healing was advanced by HM QE11's visit last May and this is another delightful gesture.

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Searlit | Mar 09, 2012, 01:00 PM EST

Don't knock Clover. It's very good for you.

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pilib04 | Mar 09, 2012, 10:49 AM EST

Will Kate be handing out Trifolium Dubium, or the fake clover stuff. Trifolium Dubium is long and stringy, it's the kind you pick up at the local shop, usually a large sprig or clump (dirt usually attached to roots), around St. Patrick's Day. Outside of that, I have only seen it growing in fields. Clover on the other hand, is quite similar to lawn grass. Grows taller, enjoys sunshine and has a rather large flower whereas Trifolium Dubium has a tiny flowers generally yellow or white or mixed. Seeds are similar. Clover can be grown in any climate, where trifolium Dubium needs cooler wet climate.

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