Kate Middleton Wears Emerald Earrings For St. Patrick’s Day Outing

Victoria MurphyTue, March 17, 2026 at 1:46 PM UTC

0

The Princess of Wales stepped out in green today for a very special St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Kate handed out shamrocks to members of the Irish Guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, south east England. She has been Colonel of the regiment since 2022 but has taken part in the tradition of handing out shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day since she joined the royal family.

The Princess of Wales presents traditional sprigs of shamrock during the 2026 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade.Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The sun was shining this morning as Kate, 44, arrived for the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As well as presenting sprigs of shamrocks to officers and guardsmen, she also gave one to the regiment’s mascot, an Irish Wolfhound known as Seamus. As Colonel of the regiment, Kate watched a march-past and took the salute.

Kate also gave special recognition to the regiment’s mascot, Turlough Mór.Chris Jackson - Getty Images

As always, the Princess chose green for her St. Patrick’s Day outfit, pairing a dark green coat and matching hat with a black belt. She accessorized with a pair of emerald and diamond earrings which appeared to be the same ones she chose for the Earthshot Awards in Boston in 2022 that have previously been thought to have been made by Asprey. At Earthshot, she paired the earrings with an emerald choker first owned by Queen Mary and a favorite of Princess Diana. Following the parade today, Kate was scheduled to meet with members of the regiment and their families in the Sergeants’ Mess.

Kate rewore a dark green Alexander McQueen coat for the occasion.ADRIAN DENNIS - Getty Images

Kate was announced as the new Colonel of the Irish Guards in December 2022, taking over from her husband William who was made Colonel of the Welsh Guards after becoming Prince of Wales. She attended her first St Patrick’s Day event as Colonel the March 2023. She did not attend in 2024 due to her surgery and cancer treatment, but was back handing out shamrocks to the regiment last year.

Advertisement

The tradition of handing out shamrocks to the Irish Guards was started by Queen Alexandra in 1901 and has been carried out by a female royal since. For many years, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother carried out the duty and it has also been performed by Princess Anne. Kate started performing the responsibility in 2012, a year after marrying Prince William.

The Princess of Wales poses for a group photo with the Irish Guards.Samir Hussein - Getty Images

“The Irish Guards serve a dual role as world-class infantry soldiers, specialising in frontline combat roles requiring excellence in the use of Machine Guns, Anti-Tank missiles, Mortars, Reconnaissance, and Sniper capabilities, and, as the ceremonial personal bodyguard to the Monarch, are frequently seen guarding Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle,” Kensington Palace explained in a statement today.

Meanwhile, King Charles sent a personal message to the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, to mark St. Patrick’s Day. “I remain greatly heartened by the enduring partnership between Ireland and the United Kingdom in facing the shared challenges of our time, particularly those concerning the preservation of our natural world and the pursuit of an equitable society,” he wrote.

You Might Also Like

25 Watch Brands That Belong in Every Collection

The 50 Best Animated Films to Watch With Your Kids

The 28 Best Westerns of All Time

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”