Prince William chats with members of The Irish Guards over a pint of Guinness after today’s St Patrick’s Day Parade (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Prince William was in high spirits as he joined the Irish Guards for a Guinness to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
Accompanied by The Princess of Wales, he smiled and chatted to guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot today while enjoying the popular Irish tipple.
The day, which included the traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade, also marked the end of William’s time as colonel of the regiment and the start of Kate’s tenure in the same position.
The prince said it had ‘been one of the greatest honours of his life’ to hold the title.
While Kate, fittingly dressed in an emerald green outfit, hailed the guards’ ‘boundless, irreverent, glorious sense of humour’.
She presented sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen as well as to the Irish wolfhound regimental Turlough Mor, known as Seamus.
The Irish Guards played a variety of tunes including music from Bill Whelan’s Riverdance, while rain poured down on the parade ground.
The prince chatted about army life and tomorrow’s rugby clash between Ireland and England while keeping hold of his sword (Picture via Reuters)
In a speech, William said: ‘Whilst I am extremely happy to be here celebrating St Patrick’s Day with you once again, I’m incredibly sad to be giving this speech, as it really does mean my time as your colonel has come to an end.
‘It has been one of the great honours of my life to hold that title; I’m proud of everything it stands for – just as I’m immensely proud of every single one of you.’
He added: ‘It’s also no secret that while at Sandhurst I had a potential officers visit to the Irish Guards, an experience that placed this battalion firmly at the top of my personal wish list.
‘Operational reasons alone prevented me serving my frontline years with The Micks.
Kate opted for a half pint of Guinness (Picture: via Reuters)
Outgoing colonel William with his sprig of shamrock (Picture: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
‘I have, however, relished every opportunity to visit you – I just wish the opportunities had been far more frequent.
‘From exercises and range days here in the UK, to training overseas – such as Kenya in 2018 – I have such vivid memories of witnessing what you do so brilliantly in the field.’
Speaking about his wife, the prince said: ‘I may be stepping aside, but in Colonel Catherine you have a committed, focused and already incredibly loyal 11th Colonel.
‘As you serve together over the years ahead, know that I will continue to watch you, with huge pride in having been one of you.’
Kate dressed in an elegant green outfit with matching green shoes (Picture: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock)
The Irish Guards exclaim during a ceremony at today’s event (Picture Toby Melville/Reuters)
Speaking after William, Kate said she couldn’t be prouder to …read more
Source:: Metro
