The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are avid fans of St Patrick’s Day, with experts even claiming that it is one of their favourite days of the year. Every year the royals travel to Ireland to honour to the Irish Guards during the parade. Kate and William drink Guinness and pat the mascot of the Irish Guards.
However, that wasn’t the case this year. The event didn’t fall victim to the Coronavirus outbreak, instead, they were unable to attend as the Irish Guards were overseas during the time of the event and the parade was unable to honour their services to the country.
British Royal Family News: Irish Guard based Overseas
The parade was unable to honour the Irish Guard, as they were based abroad and didn’t celebrate the Irish holiday publicly. The military is based in Iraq and South Sudan this year and missed out on the festivities. The royals would have been disappointed at not being able to honour them as a British servicewoman was recently killed last week.
Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon was killed in combat last week alongside two Americans while patrolling the area. William and Kate honour the servicemen and women every year at the event and even have pictures taken with the officers and sergeants.
British Royal Family News: William Serves As Colonel Of The Regiment
The Irish Guards were established in 1900 by Queen Victoria as an honour for the part that Ireland played during the Second Boer War. Irishman fought alongside the British Empire during that battle, with Prince William servicing as the Colonel of the Regiment.
The royal couple were, however, able to celebrate the service of the Irish Guards earlier in the year when they travelled to Ireland for a three-day tour. During that tour, the couple visited County Meath, Dublin and Galway. There has been no word yet as to whether the St Patrick’s Day parade next year will be going ahead.