A bit of good news, folks. The current world situation did not cancel today’s annual Cambridge St. Patrick’s Day event! There wasn’t going to be one anyway! The Irish Guards are currently deployed out of country so let’s take a look back, starting with Kate’s first appearance in 2012 right on up through 2019. I think you will all agree with me when I say she’s come a long way in her comfortability (is that even a word?) from the first event to the last. Let’s go!
Kate first handed out the shamrocks in 2012. This was her first military engagement alone, and it was a big one. HMTQM was the main shamrock hander-outer back in the day, and those are some pretty big shoes to fill. She chose an Emilia Wickstead coat dress, and her “Betty Boop” hat by Lock & Co. Also worth note, this is not Domhnall, he didn’t join the regiment until 2013. This is his predecessor Conmeal, who was also a good boy.
2013 was the first year that William joined her, and I must say he really added a punch to the visuals. She usually looks great no matter what, but toss in that Irish Guards uniform, and whoa. Kate opted for the same Wickstead coat she wore in ’12, which obviously didn’t fit quite as well since she was pregnant with George. But I have to be honest, this might be my favorite SPD ( St. Patrick’s Day) appearance so far. She got her heel stuck in a grate, her updo started to fall apart, and it decided to chuck down rain. But there were huge smiles and laughter all around, and it was our beloved Domhnall’s first time in the Big Show. How could anything have been wrong?
2014 brought much better weather and a Hobbs coat topped off with a (I believe) Gina Foster hat. The Hair was in glorious shape here. Big, full, thick and healthy. It really deserves its own name, address, and zip/postcode.
The duchess decided brown was the order of the day in 2015, and I think this might be my second favorite SPD appearance. Everything here just pops. Great Catherine Walker coat, great updo, and her brown Lock & Co . hat. Lovely.
William and Domhnall were left to their own devices in 2016, after Kate was unable to attend. I have to tell you that the photos for this one were slim pickings. Thirteen pages worth of photos the year before, only two for William.
2017 saw the whole gang together again, right before they hopped a plane for Paris. IMO, this is her most polished SPD appearance to date. Another Catherine Walker coat, this time with velvet accents which I LOVE, and a hat (rumor has it. It was never confirmed) by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co. I want to say 2017 is the year she really upped her royal game, sartorially speaking. Everything about this look is classically ROYAL, if you know what I mean. Great job, Kate!
Many were surprised to see Kate at the 2018 ceremony considering that Prince Louis’ due date was just over a month out, but she was there, looking quite well indeed. She wore the Catherine Walker coat that had made its debut on their trip to Sweden and Norway the month before, along with her Gina Foster hat.
That brings us to our most current ceremony in 2019. She looks as marvelous as always, but I do believe this is my least favorite of her SPD outfits so far. Everything looks all sharp/pointy angles to me. Very severe. The outfit is by McQueen, and the hat is from Lock & Co. This was also our friend Domhnall‘s last SPD parade. He has retired and is living a wonderous life somewhere out there, rolling down hills and napping in the sun.
I hope you enjoyed our look back at the very fun and festive St. Patrick’s Day events from the past eight years. Hopefully everyone is where they need to be in 2021, so we can meet the Irish Guards new mascot (they are still searching as of February) in his or her first SPD appearance.
I have to admit that my top three favorites are from when she was pregnant with each of her kids. She seemed very EXTRA. Extra smiley, extra laughy, extra EXTRA. What about you? Which of these was your favorite look?