Kensington Palace announced this morning that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, will attend the regiment’s annual St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot on March 17, 2026.

During the ceremony, the Princess will join the parade and present the traditional sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen of the regiment. The shamrock will then be distributed along the ranks, including to the Irish Wolfhound, the regimental mascot. The parade will conclude with a royal salute and march-past, during which the Princess will take the salute in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

Following the parade, the Princess will present long service and good conduct medals to members of the regiment. She will also meet representatives of the Irish Guards Regimental Association, as well as the “Mini Micks,” a group of junior cadets from Northern Ireland. The Princess will then join the official Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess photographs.

The Princess will later visit the Sergeants’ Mess to meet soldiers of the regiment and their families, recognising the support they provide to members of the Armed Forces.

The Irish Guards serve both as frontline infantry soldiers and as part of the ceremonial Household Division, acting as the monarch’s personal bodyguard and frequently performing duties at royal residences, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

In recent years, the regiment has also contributed to training programs supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and continues to develop modern operational capabilities, including the United Kingdom’s evolving drone warfare capacity.