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“Colonel Catherine” Kate Middleton is ringing a royal first this St. Patrick’s Day.

Kate Middleton Has an Exciting Royal First During Solo St. Patrick’s Day Outing
The Princess of Wales, 43, attended the Irish Guards’ annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17 at the Wellington Barracks in London. While she’s been a regular at the event since 2012, this year marked the first time that Kate attended in her role as the Colonel of the Irish Guards without her husband, Prince William.
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Kate Middleton Has an Exciting Royal First During Solo St. Patrick’s Day Outing
Princess Kate has often been accompanied by Prince William on the holiday in past years
By Janine Henni Published on March 17, 2025 10:19AM EDT
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The Princess of Wales, Colonel, Irish Guards, during a visit to the regiment at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Wellington Barracks.
Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Photo: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
“Colonel Catherine” Kate Middleton is ringing a royal first this St. Patrick’s Day.
The Princess of Wales, 43, attended the Irish Guards’ annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17 at the Wellington Barracks in London. While she’s been a regular at the event since 2012, this year marked the first time that Kate attended in her role as the Colonel of the Irish Guards without her husband, Prince William.
Princess Kate was named the Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, taking over the post from her husband in a reshuffling of royal roles following King Charles’ accession to the throne that September. Prince William had served as Colonel of the Irish Guards since 2011, even wearing the unit’s scarlet tunic uniform when he married Kate.
Kate attended St. Patrick’s Day for the first time as Colonel in 2023, but she was accompanied by William. They both gave speeches at the event, with Prince William attending as the outgoing Colonel and Princess Kate appearing as the incoming Colonel. Princess Kate led the way at the St. Patrick’s Day parade that year, where she took the salute, inspected the front rank and raised a pint of Guinness alongside her husband in one of the day’s cherished traditions.