Friday 17 March 2023

St Patrick's Day

The Princess of Wales presenting shamrock to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day, 2012. 

Her Royal Highness visited their barracks to meet officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the regiment.


This tradition was maintained for many years by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002).


The Princess of Wales is Royal Colonel of the Irish Guards.

The royal tradition dates back to 1901, when Queen Alexandra asked for shamrocks to be presented to the newly-formed regiment.
The badge of the Irish Guards comprises a star, within which is a shamrock with three crowns on its leaves (the historic kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland), the shamrock being placed on a cross of St Patrick.

The centre is surrounded by a circle which bears the legend QUIS SEPARABIT - who shall separate - and the date MDCCLXXXIII (1783), the establishment of the MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF ST PATRICK (KP).

1 comment :

Handelian said...

How nice to see Kate following the illustrious example of the late Queen Mother. Although neither were born royal, upon their marriages into the Royal Family they took up lives of service and duty (and privilege, certainly) with dedication and grace. Fine examples for us all.