Kate Middleton Makes Royal Return to St. Patrick's Day Parade: See All the Best Photos

Kate Middleton visits the Irish Guards at the Wellington Barracks in London on March 17, 2025. Photo:

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace (2)

Kate Middleton is raising a glass to the Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day as she spends the holiday with the regiment for the first time in two years after announcing that she’s in remission from cancer.

Scroll to see all the best photos of Princess Kate, who is otherwise known as Colonel Catherine to the unit, back on duty with the Irish Guards.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Chris Jackson/Getty

The Princess of Wales, 43, made a triumphant return to the St. Patrick’s Day parade organized by the Irish Guards at the Wellington Barracks in London on Monday, March 17.

Princess Kate has been honorary Colonel of the regiment since 2022 and had a royal first by attending the event alone for the first time in the ceremonial role. Previously, she and Prince William typically attended the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day march together, as he was their Colonel from 2011 to 2022.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Samir Hussein/WireImage

Princess Kate was in bright spirits on parade day, which marked her first military engagement after she shared on Jan. 14 that she was in remission. The royal received treatment for cancer and completed chemotherapy in 2024, and she has seemingly returned to work in full force since the new year began.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Chris Jackson/Getty

Festively dressed her in go-to green to celebrate with the regiment, the Princess of Wales presented the traditional sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen who then issued it through the ranks.

Kate also received a sprig of her own to pin on, and she wore it below the royal family’s golden Irish Guards Brooch, which is shaped like a shamrock.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Chris Jackson/Getty

It’s a special year for the Irish Guards, as the unit is marking its 125th anniversary this year. The regiment was founded in 1900 by Queen Victoria, whose adviser Lord Wolseley suggested that the Irish regiments should wear shamrocks on their head dress every St. Patrick’s Day “as a mark of the Crown’s appreciation of their exceptional gallantry” during the Boer War, the British Army reported.

From there, the regiment was born and the St. Patrick’s Day shamrock tradition has continued into the present in gratitude for their gallantry.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Chris Jackson/Getty

Princess Kate also presented the Guards’ regimental mascot Turlough Mor, an Irish wolfhound nicknamed Seamus, with a shamrock for his coat and gave him a warm pat.

Mascot handler Drummer Joseph Aldridge, 27, tells PEOPLE it was a joy for the regiment to welcome Princess Kate to the parade.

“It was special. She’s our Colonel, and obviously, we want her to come to our parade every year, but due to some unfortunate circumstances she couldn’t [last year]. It’s nice to see her come out and get to meet everyone — especially Seamus,” he says.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Samir Hussein/WireImage

“She wished myself and the mascot happy St. Patrick’s Day,” Aldridge adds about his interaction with the princess. “You can tell Her Royal Highness loves these events because she always takes the time when she can — even when she wasn’t our Colonel, she’d make the time to come and see us.”

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Karwai Tang/WireImage

Following the parade, which was highlighted by a royal salute taken by Princess Kate and march past, she met veterans of the Irish Guards and “Mini Micks,” who are junior cadets from Northern Ireland.

Kate Middleton marks St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards on March 17, 2025. Chris Jackson/Getty

Later in the day, the Princess of Wales said she was eager to back the next generation of Army leaders.

“You get to try so many different things there. Within the military, there are so many career paths you can take. It’s so exciting,” she told a young boy who had recently joined the Army cadets.

“Actually, it’s one of the things that I’m very keen to support, that recruitment side,” said Kate.