Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamare celebrating Wales.
On Wednesday — St. David’s Day, a day of national celebration for Wales — thePrince and Princess of Waleshonored the Welsh Guards in Windsor, a short drive from their home, during the St. David’s Day Parade. The event marked the first timePrince Williamhas visited the Welsh Guards since becoming theceremonial Colonel of the Welsh Guards, a royal role announced in December.
WhilePrince Williammatched the Welsh Guards in the grey Home Service Clothing (Winter Order) uniform, Princess Kate popped in a red coat, sporting a color from Wales' flag.
Shortly after arriving at the parade ground, William and Kate handed out symbolic leeks to the officers and guardsmen of the regiment in a traditional part of the St. David’s Day parade. The leek has long been associated with Wales — according to the story, the nation’s patron saint told Welsh soldiers to wear a leek on their helmets so they could better identify each other in battle against the Saxons.
Prince William and Catherine Princess of Wales visit the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
In a short speech,Prince Williamsaid he was “honored and delighted” to be their new colonel, taking over the role from his father, King Charles III.
“At the same time, I’m sorry that my father couldn’t be here with us here today to say farewell, but I know he would talk of his fierce pride and admiration for you all, and of his own sadness to be moving on from an appointment he held so dear since 1975,” William said.
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The royal recalled his own days in the British Army, stating that his memories with the Welsh Guards Sniper Platoon Salisbury Plain are “some of my best” — even though they “may not have been my easiest or driest days in the Army.”
He added, “Another key milestone in my life was also shared with the Welsh Guards, this time in the Jungles of Belize as I received my A-Level results over the Bowman Radio… Many of you will know the feeling of being in the jungle; you’re incredibly hot, continuously soaking wet and with nowhere to hide from potentially horrendous results, it could have been a really bad day! Ultimately though, it was the camaraderie, the togetherness and, of course, the banter of the Welsh Guards that got me through that period, and it’s a time I look back on fondly.”
Prince William.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince William, 40, and Princess Kate, 41, then met families from the regiment as well as a group of troops from the 5th Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) who are currently in the U.K. helping to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Kate also looked on delighted as a boy did a flip in front of her! Thomas Lucas, the 9-year-old son of a Welsh Guard on parade, made his acrobatic move just a few feet away from the royal.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
In many ways, the event mirrored the duty that Kate carries out most years on another national day:handing out of symbolic shamrocksto the Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day.
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Before King Charles III named William and Kate as the Prince and Princess of Wales following the death ofQueen Elizabeth, the couple already had a special connection to Wales — it’swhere they lived as newlyweds and first-time parents!
Prince Williamand Princess Kate visited Wales as soon as was practically possible after receiving their new titles — just a day after the royal mourning period ended in September.
source: people.com
