Princess Kate toasts the Irish Guards with a generous St. Patrick’s Day surprise

Princess Kate was seen beaming on a solo visit to the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day Parade today as she made a very generous gesture for the troops.

The Princess of Wales has dropped in at Wellington Barracks, with the regiment taking part in the celebration of the patron saint of Ireland.

She presented traditional sprigs of shamrock to officers and guardsmen during her visitCredit: PA

Kate was seen wearing a bottle green coat fit for the occasion as she exited her car on arrival at the barracks.

The princess not only graced the parade but followed up with the generous gesture of putting money behind the bar for the parade’s after party.

She had done the same last year after being unable to attend due to her recovering from abdominal surgery.

Today, Kate joined soldiers in the Junior Ranks’ cookhouse the barracks for a half pint of Guinness.

The relaxed gathering gave the royal a chance to speak informally with soldiers about their experiences, including those recently deployed overseas and others involved in training Ukrainian troops.

In a sit down chat with a group of troops she quizzed them about the difficulties of being on deployment.

She said: "Being able to manage that work-life balance - it’s tough."

Guardsman Barry Loughlin, who led the toast, said afterwards: "She wanted to know how things were going with the blokes in general.

"She was really nice and really warm. I was kind of flustered. You could tell she had a genuine interest in us."

Kate was earlier greeted by senior officers before heading to the Officers’ Mess to present medals.

Soldiers from the Irish Guards, who recently returned from deployment in Iraq were presented with medals from the Princess of Wales.

During the private ceremony, she also awarded Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers in recognition of their commitment to the Army.

She told soldiers and their families how she had missed taking part in the ceremony over the past two years.

Following these medal presentations, Princess Kate was seen distributing shamrock to soldiers on the parade square.

She also gifted Turlough Mór, the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascot, a sprig of shamrock.

In another exchange, the royal was heard talking to the family of Sergeant Jamie Davies about her love of the flute.

The senior royal was seen walking around the parade, talking to officers and providing them with shamrock sprigs.

The visit marks her second St Patrick’s Day as Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role she took on in 2023.

Kate presenting sprigs of Shamrock to officersCredit: PA

The Princess of Wales meeting Turlough Mór, the Irish Wolf Hound regimental mascotCredit: James Whatling

She also gifted the pooch a sprig of shamrockCredit: Getty

This year’s event is notably special as the regiment is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Princess Kate missed out on celebrations last year as she was still recovering from her abdominal surgery.

It was this operation that led to the discovery of her cancer, for which she then began preventative chemotherapy.

Unable to raise her usual Guinness toast with soldiers at Mons Barracks in Aldershot last year, the royal made sure she was there in spirit by putting £2,000 behind the regimental bar for an after party.

In appreciating the gesture, members from the Irish Guards gave three cheers to an absent Kate, raising their bearskin helmets into the air as a mark of respect.

It is also confirmed that the Princess of Wales has followed the same act of generosity this year, putting money behind the bar once more for the brave members of the Irish Guards.

After presenting medals and traditional sprigs of shamrock to Officers and Guardsman today, as well as the Irish Wolfhound regimental mascot, the princess will continue on with the parade.

It will will conclude with a Royal Salute and march-past where Kate will take the salute as Colonel.

After the parade, she will meet veterans of the Irish Guards and Mini Micks, who are junior cadets from Northern Ireland.

The princess joined the Irish Guards’ serving soldiers, reservists, young cadets and their families as well as veteransCredit: AP

Kate sat with officers and guardsman during the paradeCredit: AP

The princess was seen smiling as she walked through the army siteCredit: James Whatling

To cap off the celebrations she will visit the Junior Ranks dining hall where the Senior Guardsman in the Battalion will propose a toast to the Princess.

Kate will spend time in the Sergeants’ Mess to meet with members and their families.

This comes as the Princess of Wales is returning to her full royal duties after completing her cancer treatment.

Members of the Irish Guards awaiting Princess Kate’s arrivalCredit: AFP

An officer providing the royal with her shamrockCredit: PA

KATE CELEBRATES WITH ENGLAND PLAYERS

It comes after Kate, 43, joined husband Prince William, 42, at Saturday’s Six Nations rugby clash between England and Wales on Saturday.

Kate was snapped celebrating with the England side after they trounced Wales 68-14 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Following the match, both William and Kate headed to the Wales and England changing rooms to celebrate with - or comfort - the players.

Kate has been captured smiling and shaking the hands of the winning England side - many of who were having a celebratory beer.

Meanwhile William was commiserating with the devastated Welsh team following the huge loss.

During the game, the Royal couple were seen bantering with fans as they supported opposite sides during the England-Wales Six Nations rugby clash.

England was "ready to embrace the hostility of Cardiff" according to lock Ollie Chessum - in one of the last games of the season.

Kate and William are patrons of the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) respectively.

Despite the good-natured rivalry, they united before the game to greet injured players at the stadium supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust.

In a story posted to their shared Instagram account, the pair wrote: "A pleasure to meet with players supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust ahead of today’s match in Cardiff."

The same message was also written in Welsh, along with snaps from the event.

The famously competitive couple have previously joked about their opposing loyalties when it comes to the Six Nations.

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

As well as his love for rugby, Prince William is also a footie fan - and was spotted earlier this week enjoying a matchday at Villa Park mixing with the other fans.

The royal has spoken of falling in love with Aston Villa after being taken to a match by friends as a boy.

He also revealed he visits fan forums anonymously online — and moves his kids around when watching at home to bring the team luck.

William said he was gripped by the “sense of belonging” and the passion of his fellow football fans.

When the new England boss Thomas Tuchel was appointed, the FA received criticism for choosing a foreigner rather than an Englishman.

However the royal gave Tuchel the royal seal of approval.

In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Prince William, now an FA patron after serving 18 years as president, said: “I understand the debate around having an English manager.

“But, to me, it should be the best person for the job — and Thomas is exactly the right person.

“Without doubt he is one of the top five managers in the world."

“It would be amazing if he could win the World Cup next year. It’s gearing up to that and it’s definitely possible."

Kate’s appearance at the rugby and now the Irish Guards engagement comes as part of a gradual return to public duties after revealing she is in remission from cancer.

Princess Kate shaking hands with Chandler Cunningham-SouthCredit: Getty

She was spotted chatting to Maro Itoje in the changing roomCredit: Getty

Prince William visited the Wales team after the clashCredit: Instagram

Sophia Martinez