Kate Middleton shares tribute to the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day

Kate sat out the 2024 St Patrick’s Day celebration due to her surgery. Last year was Kate's first as the regiment’s honorary colonel after taking over from Prince William. Photo / Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales, shared a video paying tribute to the Irish Guards ahead of their traditional St Patrick’s Day parade.

The 42-year-old royal, who is the British Army regiment’s colonel and is still recovering from abdominal surgery she underwent in January, sat out the celebrations on Sunday – with Catherine replaced in the ceremony in Aldershot by Lady Ghika, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Major General Sir Christopher Ghika.

Lady Ghika presented the Irish Guards’ mascot Seamus the dog with a shamrock at Mons Barracks in Aldershot – where troops gave Catherine three cheers as they raised their bearskins into the air as a mark of respect.

In Kate's place, Lady Ghika presented the Irish Guards’ mascot Seamus the dog with a shamrock at Mons Barracks in Aldershot. Photo / Getty Images

In a video of rehearsals shared ahead of the event, Catherine and her husband William, Prince of Wales, 41, they said: “Happy St Patrick’s Day!”

”Here’s a sneak peak of the Irish Guards rehearsing for their annual parade.

”Slainte [cheers] to all those celebrating today!”

The video featured members of the Irish Guards saying the parade unites the Household Division regiment.

The 2023 St Patrick’s Day celebration was Catherine’s first as the regiment’s honorary colonel after taking over from Prince William.

She said at the time: “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.

”I look forward to spending more time with you and your families, seeing your commitment to duty and service in all you do.

”Before I close, however, I want to thank Colonel William. He has always talked about his fierce pride for this regiment.

”I know he will continue to support us all in the work we do.”

Along with recovering from surgery, Catherine was hit by conspiracy theories following the release of an edited photo of her and her children for the UK’s Mother’s Day on 10 March – with the royal said to be “very sad” at the worldwide headlines the changes had sparked.