A look back at how Colonel Kate has deployed a 'secret weapon' to wow the Irish Guards (and the rest of us) each St Patrick's Day...

For more than a decade, the Princess of Wales has taken part in the ceremony to  hand out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day.

And the result has been something of an annual fashion high point for Kate, who mostly turns to a trusted coat dress for the the occasion.

Ranging from crisp military styles to double-breasted versions and maternity tailoring, the dress coat is a hybrid fashion item that brings polish to her working wardrobe.

Including examples by Catherine Walker, Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen  the coat dresses  have become something of secret weapon, remain pulled together regardless of the weather while lending a note of dramatic glamour.

On each of her St Patrick's parade appearances, Kate has decorated her outfit with a delicate gold shamrock brooch by Cartier, loaned by the Irish Guards regiment. The accessory was worn by the Queen Mother during her appearances with the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day and later Princess Anne who took over the role after the Queen Mother's death.

This year, the princess misses the event as she recuperates from surgery. But here  we look back at the many style successes she has had on March 17. 

There's definitely something of a theme...

2023

Last year was Kate's first St Patick’s Day as Colonel of the Regiment.

The Princess of Wales marked it by swapping her usual all-green attire for a teal Catherine Walker ensemble.

For her first St Patrick's day as Colonel of the Regiment, Kate wore Catherine Walker in Teal

The shamrock remained green however, and it obscured a gold shamrock brooch

Colonel Catherine opted for a bespoke coatdress with matching Gianvito Rossi pumps and a Jane Taylor hat, topping off the stylish outfit with a gold Cartier shamrock brooch which has a rich royal history. 

While her choice of colour was unexpected, Kate's ensemble perfectly matched the plumes worn in the Irish Guards' bearskin caps, St Patrick's blue - which is the shade of the mantle and sash of the Order of St Patrick.

2022

After missing the parade for the two years marred by the pandemic, Kate made a triumphant return at the annual parade in Aldershot with a perfectly coordinated ensemble in deep green. 

A deep green outfit by... designer Laura Green 

Her coat dress by the aptly-named designer Laura Green featured her favourite high collar neckline and belted waist and was paired with a pillbox hat by Lock & Co and Emmy emerald green pumps.

2020-21

St Patrick's Day looked a little bit different in 2020 and 2021 as coronavirus swept the planet.

Less formal during the  Covid lockdown, Kate chose an emerald green Zara blazer

In 2021, Kate and William joined world leaders in wishing Ireland a happy St Patrick's Day in a video from the Irish Foreign Ministry. 

Kate wore green in a chic Zara blazer, accessorising with her Daniella Draper shamrock earrings and necklace.

2019

At the 2019 ceremony the Duchess of Cambridge, as she then was, wore a forest green Alexander McQueen coat which featured military style buttons, a high collar and peplum frill at the back.

Kate's stylish coat was Alexander McQueen with a matching Lock & Co fascinator

Kate topped the stylish tailoring with a matching Lock & Co flower detail fascinator, Gianvito Rossi block-heeled pumps and Cornelia James gloves. 

With her hair pulled back in a neat chignon, her green tourmaline and green amethyst Kiki McDonough earrings - a gift for Princess Charlotte’s birth - glittered in the sunshine.

2018

It was pregnancy style for St Patrick’s Day in 2018 as Kate stepped out looking radiant in a Catherine Walker. 

Kate steps out looking radiant in a Catherine Walker coat while expecting Prince Louis

Kate was expecting Prince Louis at the time. 

Trimmed with fur at the collar and cuffs, this cosy coat was another example of the Kate’s pitch perfect maternity wardrobe and was accessorised with a pair of Tod’s suede heels and a Gina Foster hat which she first wore on St Patrick's Day in 2014.

2017

As Kate made her annual trip to honour the Irish Guards for St Patrick's Day after missing the celebrations the previous year, she opted for a new Catherine Walker coat. 

This one had buttons that mirrored the guardsmens' uniform.

The buttons on this one are reminiscent of a guardsman's uniform

 She wore a Lock & Co hat which she previously wore four months earlier on Christmas Day, together with matching Emmy heels. Jewellery-wise Kate chose a favourite pair of Monica Vinader earrings in green onyx.

2015

Weeks away from Princess Charlotte's arrival in 2015, Kate broke with the green tradition and chose a chestnut brown coat by Catherine Walker. 

A chestnut brown number by Catherine Walker for 2015

The royal accessorised her maternity look with Emmy pumps in coordinating brown and a Lock & Co pillbox hat which she had also worn to her first St Patrick's Day event in 2012, adding some sparkle with Kiki McDonough Citrine drop earrings.

2014

Kate turned to the high street in 2014 choosing a bottle green Hobb's wool trench coat which featured epaulets and became an instant sell-out. 

This wool trench coast by high street brand Hobbs became an instant sell-out

She swapped the tie belt for a leather Emilia Wickstead design, neatly cinching in the waist and went green all over with an Emmy clutch and matching shoes. Kate’s glossy blow-dry was topped with a Gina Foster hat and her Kiki McDonough cushion cut amethyst earrings were the perfect finishing touch.

2013

Glowing Kate dressed her pregnancy figure in the same Emilia Wickstead coat which she wore the previous year, removing the belt to accommodate her growing bump.

Kate's pregnancy bump is covered with an Emilia Wickstead coat dress - without the belt

 This time she styled the look with a black roll neck, Cornelia James gloves and a matching black Lock & Co hat. Wearing her Episode black suede pumps, the royal had an unfortunate mishap when they got trapped in a grate and Prince William came to her rescue.

2012

For her first parade in 2012, which was also her first solo military engagement, Kate sported an elegant emerald green belted coat by Emilia Wickstead.

Slender Kate with a belted coast and a chocolate brown Lock & Co hat

She paired with a chocolate brown Lock & Co hat. Looking radiant in the jewel tones, she styled her hair in loose waves and wore the heirloom Cartier shamrock brooch on her lapel which became part of her St Patrick’s Day uniform for the following years.