Duchess Kate and Prince William Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Guards

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, have once again celebrated St. Patrick's Day with the Irish Guards.

The royal couple have been carrying out this engagement for the past few years, and it is one of Duchess Kate's favorite public outings.

The event took place at the 1st Battalion's base in Hounslow, West London, where Prince William has been Colonel of the Irish Guards since 2011.

The Duke and Duchess watched the soldiers participate in the traditional parade, with William taking the salute.

Duchess Kate paid sartorial tribute to Ireland's National Day by donning a traditional emerald green outfit.

She teamed her dress with a coordinating clutch and Gianvito Rossi's Piper suede pumps, and wore her hair up in a stylish chignon.

She also added a pair of special edition green amethyst and green tourmaline earrings from Kiki McDonough.

During the parade, the couple reunited with their furry friend, Dom Hall, a 7-year-old Irish wolfhound and mascot.

They have met several times previously at Calvary Barracks.

Kate patted and stroked the mascot several times while presenting him with a shamrock.

The mascot, wearing a red coat, was presented with his first shamrock in 2013.

Dom Hall traditionally leads 350 soldiers as they march on the parade square at Calvary Barracks on Sunday morning.

However, concerns have been raised about his ailing health in recent years.

After the parade, Kate handed out shamrocks to officers and warrant officers, a tradition that was started in 1901 by Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII.

The shamrock's three heart-shaped leaves represent Ireland and the Holy Trinity, God and Country, and on St. Patrick's Day every year, it's handed out to Irish guards who fight and die in the British Armed Forces.

In times of war, the shamrock is shipped out to them to be tucked into their Kevlar helmets.

For those at home, the ultimate honor is to have it presented by a senior female member of the royal family.

The tradition, which began in 1901, later became the trademark of the Queen Mother, who maintained it until she died.

It was later taken up by Princess Anne.

However, since 2012, the duty has fallen to the Duchess of Cambridge, whose husband is the current royal colonel of the Irish Guards.

After the parade, the Duke and Duchess were toasted by the longest-serving guardsmen at the guardsman's lunch, and the Duchess thanked for presenting the shamrock.