Trooping the Colour, Changing of the Guard, etc: Public Duties

I'm told a few crates of champagne for his mess, and many more of assorted boozes for some others will smooth things over?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/11477050/Duchess-of-Cambridge-hands-out-St-Patricks-Day-shamrocks-to-Irish-Guards.html

Duchess of Cambridge hands out St Patrick's Day shamrocks to Irish Guards
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, carries out St Patrick's Day tradition with the Duke of Cambridge at Mons Barracks in Aldershot

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The Duchess of Cambridge has helped soldiers from the Irish Guards celebrate St Patrick's Day by presenting sprigs of shamrocks to them at their barracks in Aldershot.
Her husband the Duke of Cambridge is Colonel of the Regiment, and memorably wore his Irish Guards uniform when the couple married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during the visit (Stephen Lock/ I-Images)

Ever since their marriage the couple have upheld the 114-year-old royal tradition of presenting shamrocks to the officers and guardsmen of the regiment at their St Patrick's Day Parade.

The Duchess wore a brown Catherine Walker coat and Lock & Co hat and a gold shamrock brooch given to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother by the Irish Guards. The Duke wore an Irish Guards frock coat and ceremonial sword.

Two hundred soldiers from 1st Bn Irish Guards marched onto the Parade Square at their base, Mons Barracks, for the presentation of the shamrocks. The Duchess presented baskets of shamrocks to the battalion’s warrant officers who, in turn, issued the sprigs out along the ranks.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with The Irish Guards (Eddie Mulholland)

The Duke, meanwhile, presented a Little Hero medal, specially created for the children of service personnel who served in Afghanistan, to six-year-old Alex Rowland. His father, Staff Sergeant Craig Rowland, who is with the Royal Logistics Corps, served there last year attached to the Irish Guards.

"I gave him some crayons for Prince George and a bib for the baby," said Alex. "He said: 'Thank you very much, that's very kind."


The Duke of Cambridge enjoys a pint of Guinness (Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph)

After the ceremony the Duke, in a frock coat with ceremonial sword, and Duchess met soldiers and their families and sat for group photographs on the parade ground with the officers' and sergeants' mess.

Inside a marquee, the Duke toasted the regiment with a pint of Guinness but Kate, whose second child is due towards the end of April, settled for a glass of water.

The Duchess, who put her left hand on the top of her husband's right arm as they went to chat to families, appeared on good form but after an hour she was starting to tire. "I need to stop bending down and have a sit down," the Duchess told one fellow mum cheerfully after she had spoken to several small children.


The Duchess of Cambridge presents a shamrock to an Irish Guard (Wenn)

When she met young cadets, the Duchess expressed her delight that more young girls were getting involved. "She was saying how it's good to see more girls and women in the cadet force," said Erin Nelson, 17, who had come over from Donaghadee, Northern Ireland for the parade. "She was asking if we saw it as a future career. She was really lovely."

One young lad told the Duke he wanted to go in The Rifles regiment, and the Prince insisted: "No. You are joining the Irish Guards."


(The Duchess of Cambridge) Eddie Mulholland

The tradition of presenting shamrocks was inaugurated by Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII, in 1901, the first year of his reign.


The royal couple share a joke at the event (Stephen Lock /I-Images)

The parade this year was much smaller than past years as the battalion currently has troops deployed around the world. special packages of the fresh plant were flown out to those abroad, including the Falkland Islands and Oman.


The Duchess of Cambridge shares a joke with the Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 Bryn Taylor, during a portrait photograph with The Irish Guards (Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph)

One excited mother got a kiss from the Duke to add to another royal peck she got from his dad Prince Charles 13 years ago.
Susan Crittenden, who comes from an Army family and lives at a nearby barracks, showed William a photo she has of her, holding her younger son Reece, then two-and-a-half and now 15, in her arms when greeting Charles during a visit to Caterham barracks.
"I told him I had a kiss from Prince Charles and he said 'my goodness'. And when I asked him for a kiss I got one," she said. "He was very charming."

Mrs Crittenden, 49, was impressed by the Duchess.

"She looks radiant. I can't believe how she does it standing up all the time, in high heels, when you're pregnant like that," she said.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during the St Patrick's Day parade (Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph)

No matter how hard she tried, the Duchess could not get a sprig of shamrock to stay in the collar of Domhnall, a three-year-old Irish wolfhound who serves as the regiment's mascot.

Several times she tried before the Quartermaster, Major Paul Fagin, stepped in and tied the sprig of shamrock to the collar, only for it to fall off as soon as the 11 and a half stone dog was turned by his handler, Drummer Dean Kirk, to march off. "It didn't stay on very long," the Duchess said with a smile afterwards.

Domhnall, who had enjoyed a breakfast of tea and toast before the parade, appeared untroubled by his wardrobe malfunction. He was on a promise of a pint of Guinness later to celebrate the occasion.


The Duchess of Cambridge with the regimental dog (Eddie Mulholland/Telegraph)

The Irish Guards were formed on 1st April 1900 on the orders of Queen Victoria in recognition of the many courageous acts carried out by Irish soldiers during the Second Boer War.

Their regimental motto, ‘Quis Separabit’ translates into ‘Who shall separate us?’ taken from the Order of St Patrick, an order of chivalry founded by King George III. Their cap badge, referred to as the Cap Star, takes the form of the five pointed star of the Order of St Patrick.



The Duchess of Cambridge during the St Patrick's Day parade (Andrew Parsons / i-Images)

The Duchess, who is eight months pregnant, is only expected to carry out one or two more public engagments before she gives birth in April.

She will visit a children's centre in London on Wednesday and may carry out a further engagement later in the month.
Her workload suggests the due date for the baby is not until late April.

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https://www.facebook.com/britisharmy/photos_stream

Regimental mascot Domhnall, the Irish wolfhound, received his own sprig of shamrock from the Duchess of Cambridge at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade held in Aldershot today. Photographer Sergeant Rupert Frere; Crown copyright.

 

"It's not the size of the man in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the man"

 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32313975

video in link

 

Watching the Welsh guards Trooping the colour this morning, and they just mentioned three Falklands veterans are participating. Remarkable really, given it was 33 years ago.

I see the lead shouty man (one of the above) is retiring too. Some daunting and shiny boots to fill there...
http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/gsm/bmott.htm

 

Welsh Guards Centenary year 2015
http://www.welshguardscentenary.org.uk/?page_id=15

http://www.welshguards2015specialevents.org.uk/?page_id=15

 

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/st-davids-day-military-parade-10974455

St David's Day military parade sees 1st Battalion Welsh Guards celebrate centenary

Around 300 guardsmen, cadets and members from the Regimental Association were presented with leeks to honour Saint David in front of family and friends

t David's Day was marked with a major military parade in Pirbright on Tuesday.

Members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards celebrated the event - and crowned their centenary year.

As the national symbol of Wales, the leek is presented on St David’s Day and worn in the cap badges of every soldier in every Welsh regiment.

The Battalion began their celebrations with a church service at the Guards Depot Chapel, followed by the parade on the drill square at Elizabeth Barracks.

Supported by The Irish Guards Band, around 300 guardsmen, cadets and members from the Regimental Association formed on the parade square where they were presented with leeks to honour Saint David in front of family and friends.

"The parade also signifies the end of the Welsh Guards’ hugely successful and well received centenary year," said the Army.

The Regiment was the last of the five Foot Guards Regiments to be formed; only coming into existence in 1915 by Royal Warrant of King George V and order of Earl Kitchener the Secretary of State for War.

Battalions linked to the regiment have fought for the UK in every major conflict of the 20th century, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Princess Anne presented the Welsh soldiers with leeks when she made her Royal debut in Surrey.

The 18-year-old was at Pirbright Camp to mark St David’s Day on Saturday March 1 1969.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35833089

Prince William presents soldiers with St Patrick's Day shamrocks


Receiving a shamrock on St Patrick's Day is an Irish Guards tradition dating back to 1901

Prince William has led a St Patrick's Day parade in London involving more than 600 soldiers.

The Duke of Cambridge presented troops from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards with shamrocks when he visited the Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow.

The parade was the first time the full battalion has been able to celebrate St Patrick's Day in five years.

It was also the first time a male Royal Family member has presented the Irish Guards with the traditional shamrocks.

The Duchess of Cambridge broke with the 115-year tradition by staying at home with her children.

It was the first time she had missed the annual event since taking over the role from the Princess Royal in 2012.


Prince William also met regiment's mascot Domhnall


The duke greeted 450 serving soldiers along with 150 association members

The Duke, who is Colonel of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, greeted 450 serving soldiers at the ceremony along with 150 association members and Army cadets from Northern Ireland.

He also present a sprig of shamrock to the regiment's mascot, a four-year-old Irish wolfhound named Domhnall, which is Gaelic for "world leader".

Formed in April 1900 by Queen Victoria to recognise the services of Irish soldiers during the Second Boer War in South Africa, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards served major roles in both world wars and has been awarded six Victoria Crosses over the last century.

Receiving shamrock on St Patrick's Day is a battalion tradition dating back to 1901, when Princess Alexandra became the first member of the Royal Family to attend the ceremony.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36076299

 

Queen's 90th birthday is marked at Trooping the Colour parade - BBC News



11 Chelsea Pensioners, all Army veterans, with a combined age of 785, watched the event




Guardsmen passed a memorial to members of the Household Division killed in service

Maj-Gen's review, 360