The Princess of Wales dressed in green as she arrived at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade today as she made a triumphant solo return to the celebration.

Kate, who is colonel of the regiment after taking over from her husband, missed the Guards’ annual occasion last year as she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

But the royal, who is gradually returning to public duties, made her return today after a two-year absence at the Wellington Barracks in London.

Dressed in a lucky green Alexander McQueen coat dress, Kate styled her look with black heeled boots and a beret, and added a Shamrock pin. 

She also put money behind the bar for guardsmen, saying it’s ‘the least she could do’.

Later, the mother-of-three will award long service and good conduct medals to soldiers and present the traditional sprigs of shamrock to officers and guardsmen.

Joining the Guards today was Seamus, their mascot, an adorable Irish Wolfhound.

Kate will take the salute as colonel during a march-past and meet Irish Guards veterans as well as junior cadets from Northern Ireland known as Mini Micks.

The princess will also spend time in the junior ranks’ dining hall, where senior guardsman will propose a toast in her honour, and gather with families in the sergeants’ mess.

In 2023, Kate visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day with the Prince of Wales at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, after taking over the role of colonel from William.

The Princess of Wales dressed in green as she arrived at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade today as she made a triumphant solo return to the celebration

The Princess of Wales dressed in green as she arrived at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade today as she made a triumphant solo return to the celebration

Joining the Guards today was Seamus, their mascot, an adorable Irish Wolfhound

Members of the Irish Guards during the 2025 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barrack

Seamus, the Irish Guards mascot ahead of The Princess of Wales arriving for a visit to the Irish Guards for their St Patrick’s Day

Last year, the guardsman gave three cheers for their absent colonel while the princess was away from public duties after abdominal surgery.

It comes after the Prince and Princess of Wales cheered on opposing sides at Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations match.

William and Kate took their seats at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch the teams compete in the competition’s final round of matches.

The prince is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) while the princess holds a similar position with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The famously competitive couple have previously joked about supporting different teams during the tournament with William supporting Wales and Kate rooting for England.

In 2023, William remarked it would be a ‘tense journey home’ with his wife after a Six Nations Wales v England match in Cardiff.

Kate is gradually returning to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer.

She also has an engagement with the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day in London on Monday.

Before the match, the couple met injured players who have been supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust inside the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite – a space dedicated for use by the players and their families ahead of games.

William is patron of the trust, which was set up to help players who have been severely injured while playing rugby in Wales, and their loved ones, inviting them to every Wales home game and hosting an annual family day.

The Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot, alongside members of the Irish Guards during the 2025 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barracks

A member of the Irish Guards during the 2025 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barracks

The royal couple spoke of how they watch Princes George and Louis play rugby at weekends in ‘freezing’ weather.

‘At weekends we go from one competition to the next,’ William said. 

Kate added: ‘Louis is six and he’s just started touch rugby and George is 11 and he plays a bit more. They do really enjoy it, actually.’ She continued: ‘They’ve been exposed to lots of different sports.’

William and Kate chatted with the former players about their rugby careers and how they are continuing to enjoy the game.

On arriving at the stadium, they met the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh’s Goat Major and mascot, Lance Corporal Shenkin.

They were also introduced to Morfudd Meredith, the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Terry Cobner, president, Richard Collier-Keywood, chairman, and chief executive Abi Tierney, all of the Welsh Rugby Union, and Rob Udwin, president of the Rugby Football Union.

After the match, won 68-14 by England, both William and Kate visited the Wales and England changing rooms to speak to the players.

They then headed to the pitch to meet Rodrigo Gonzalez, co-founder and co-chief executive of 2022 Earthshot Prize winner Notpla, to mark the rollout of its plastic-free food packaging across Welsh Stadiums.