History Behind St. Patrick's Day - A long standing event of Irish Military and British Royal Calender

Kensington Palace

 

The British Royal Family has a long standing connection with the St. Patrick's day. In 1900, Queen Victoria forms the Irish Guards, a foot regiment, to honour the Irishmen who had fought in the Second Boer War. The Queen asked all the Irish guards to wear a sprig of shamrock in their headdress to “commemorate the gallantry” of her Irish soldiers. 

 

Irish Guards

Every year on March 17, Irish community observes the St Patrick's Day on the death anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland - St. Patrick. By birth St. Patrick was not Irish - he was British. He spent 6 years in captivity and after getting away, he took religious training that lasted 15 years. With the time, his death anniversary turned into a day celebrating the Irish culture, Military parades, food festivals and much more.The day is marked with Shamrock.

The Royal Family

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, is the Colonel of the Irish Guards since May 2011. He chose to wear the Irish Guards' uniform at his wedding in April 2011. 

 

Credit to the Owners

Since her marriage to Prince William, The Duchess of Cambridge, has attended the St. Patrick's Day Parade 6 times where she presents the Irish guards with the sprig of Shamrock. A look back at The Duchess of Cambridge's appearance between 2012 annd 2019. The beautiful collage was made by the lovely Katie on Instagram.

 

Kensington Palace

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's last attendance was in 2019. The parade was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.