The show goes on without Colonel Kate: Princess of Wales is replaced by Lady Ghika during the Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade – but the royal wishes ‘slainté’ to people celebrating
The Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade went ahead as usual this year, with one notable absence: the regiment’s honorary colonel, the Princess of Wales.
Kate, 42, an honorary lieutenant colonel of the regiment, was instead replaced at the ceremony in Aldershot by Lady Ghika, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Major General Sir Christopher Ghika.
Dressed in a plum coat dress, she presented the Irish Guards mascot, Seamus the dog, with a shamrock, as is tradition during the parade.
Just a year earlier, the Princess of Wales stood in her place and performed the same tradition, wearing a turquoise coat and with a shamrock on her lapel.
The 2023 St Patrick’s Day celebration was Kate’s first as an honorary lieutenant colonel, after taking over the role from Prince William.
Lady Ghika, wife of Major General Sir Christopher Ghika, replaced the Princess of Wales at this year’s Irish Guards St. Patrick’s Day parade
Although Kate was unable to attend this year’s parade as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to the Irish Guards via Instagram and Twitter.
In a glossy video, members of the regiment talk about what St Patrick’s Day means to them and why it is important to the Irish Guards as they went behind the scenes at rehearsals.
The video was captioned: “Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here’s a sneak peek of the Irish Guards rehearsing for their annual parade. Sláinte to everyone who celebrates today!’
Last year, the mascot Seamus received his shamrock from Kate, who performed her first parade as a colonel
During last year’s celebration, the princess gave a speech in which she expressed her pride in accepting the title.
She said, “I really couldn’t be more proud to be standing here before you today. It is truly an honor to be your colonel. I am here to listen to you, support you and defend you in everything you do – this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.”
Meanwhile, William said being Colonel of the Irish Guards has been one of the ‘great honors of my life’.
The parade continued as the members of the regiment took part in the festivities
When Lady Ghika replaced Kate, she took on the responsibility of handing out shamrocks
Before attending the ceremony, Kate had joined the same regiment for a day of army exercises in snowy conditions – and joked that the event had been ‘so cold’.
She said of the visit: ‘All I saw was enthusiasm, pride and incredible dedication.
‘I was hugely impressed by your insistence that nothing is as bad as it seems, and – especially – by your boundless, irreverent, glorious sense of humor. That is what makes you who you are and what makes the Irish Guards unique.”
She also thanked her husband ‘Colonel William’ and concluded: ‘Before I conclude, however, I would like to thank Colonel William. He has always spoken of his fierce pride for this regiment. I know he will continue to support all of us in the work we do.”
Later in the afternoon, the Princess joined members of the regiment and their families for a pint of Guinness – although it seemed the stout may not have been her drink of choice as she didn’t drink too much of ‘the black stuff’.