Shamrock Chic! See Kate Middleton’s Best St. Patrick’s Day Looks Through the Years
Kate Middleton is a queen in green!
The Princess of Wales has become closely associated with St. Patrick’s Day, often spending the holiday with the Irish Guards since 2012. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, she was appointed as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, taking over the role from Prince William and giving the event even more meaning.
Of course, the royal always has the perfect outfit for the military parade. While green is the obvious go-to, she’s also surprised with brown and teal outfits. See how she’s dressed for St. Patrick’s Day through the years.
of 18
2025
After missing the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2024 due to her health struggles (she was recovering from abdominal surgery and announced shortly after the holiday that she was getting treatment for cancer), Princess Kate returned to celebrate the holiday with the Irish Guards in 2025. She opted for a dark green Alexander McQueen coat dress with gloves and high boots, topped with a coordinating hat. She accessorized with the gold shamrock brooch she’s worn in past years.
of 18
2023
The Princess of Wales had an extra special St. Patrick’s Day in 2023, as the holiday marked her first as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards. King Charles gave his daughter-in-law the royal role in December 2022, a fitting position for the Princess of Wales, who has honored the guards regiment almost every St. Patrick’s Day since marrying into the royal family in 2011.
Kate sported a teal Catherine Walker & Co coat dress paired with matching accessories for the event, where she was accompanied by Prince William — who called his wife “Colonel Catherine” in a speech.
of 18
2023
While her color choice was unexpected, there was a reason the royal opted for it over a classic green: Kate’s ensemble perfectly matched the color of the plumes in the Irish Guards’ bearskin caps, St. Patrick’s blue.
of 18
2023
For the first time, Princess Kate took the royal salute as the troops marched past. But she was quite accustomed to other traditions, such as distributing shamrock sprigs, which the guards pin to their tunics. Also getting a sprig of the bloom was the regimental mascot, the Irish wolfhound, who got a sweet pat from the royal.
of 18
2022
Kate looked classic at the Irish Guards’ annual parade in 2022, wearing a deep green coat dress by the aptly-named designer Laura Green and a pillbox hat by Lock & Co, plus green heels.
It was the first time Kate and Prince William were able to participate in the parade in three years after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the usual festivities.
of 18
2021
St. Patrick’s Day looked a little bit different in 2020 and 2021 as COVID swept the globe. Instead of the typical festivities, Kate and Prince William joined world leaders in wishing Ireland a happy St. Patrick’s Day in a video from the Irish Foreign Ministry in 2021.
Kate popped in a bright green blazer from Zara, accessorizing with a gold shamrock necklace by Daniella Draper. The delicate necklace was a thoughtful touch, as the royal wore it during her visit to Ireland in February 2020, before the pandemic curtailed international travel.
of 18
2019
The royal couple rocked their usual looks on St. Patrick’s Day in 2019: Kate in green and William in a military uniform. The then-Duchess of Cambridge wore a forest green Alexander McQueen coat that she topped with a matching fascinator. She kept her hair back and accessorized with a pair of green tourmaline and green amethyst Kiki McDonough earrings.
of 18
2019
After the formalities, William and Kate toasted with a pint of Guinness!
of 18
2018
Kate got in the holiday spirit with a green Catherine Walker coat trimmed with black fur cuffs and a collar and a jaunty green fascinator. She accessorized for the chilly weather with black gloves, black tights and suede pumps – and added an extra touch of glam with her drop earrings.
of 18
2018
Kate was eight months pregnant with Prince Louis on the holiday in 2018, so she toasted with a glass of water!
of 18
2017
After missing the parade in 2016 (which Prince William attended alone), Kate looked stylish in a collared green coat from Catherine Walker with the Irish Guards shamrock brooch. She completed the look with a matching fascinator.
of 18
2017
Naturally, the celebrations included sipping a pint of Guinness!
of 18
2015
The royal mom broke from her tradition of wearing green for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Instead, she opted for a brown coat — again by Catherine Walker — plus a pillbox hat.
of 18
2015
The maternity moment came just a few weeks before Princess Charlotte was born.
of 18
2014
The Duchess of Cambridge dressed in head-to-toe green for 2014’s appearance at the parade in Mons Barracks, Aldershot, selecting a Hobbs London belted trench, Gina Foster hat, Cartier shamrock brooch and green suede pumps.
of 18
2013
Kate kept cozy while pregnant with Prince George at the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in 2013, sporting a green coat dress over a black turtleneck dress, tights and heels, coordinating with black gloves and a fascinator.
of 18
2012
In a fittingly festive Emilia Wickstead frock and brown headtopper, Kate paid a special St. Patrick’s Day visit to the Irish Guards, passing out shamrocks to officers of the guard’s 1st Battalion — a tradition began by the Queen Mother.
of 18
2012
Cheers to you, Princess Kate!
Source: People
