Princess Kate donned a 17-year-old pair of gloves with a sentimental meaning on St David’s Day. Kate and Prince William visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for their parade on Wednesday.
The princess attended the procession with her husband for the first time since he took over from King Charles as the regiment’s Colonel.
Kate wore an eye-catching, red Alexander McQueen coat, a colour associated with the Welsh Dragon as well as a black fascinator-style hat paired with a pair of black gloves.
Eagle-eyed royal fans spotted that the princess had been seen wearing the same gloves before.
That was almost 17 years ago when she attended William‘s passing out parade at Sandhurst in 2006 where she wore a black and red ensemble.
“While they may not have been my easiest or driest days in the Army, my memories with the Welsh Guards Sniper Platoon Salisbury Plain are some of my best.
“Another key milestone in my life was also shared with the Welsh Guards, this time in the jungles of Belize as I received my A-level results over the Bowman Radio.
“Many of you will know the feeling of being in the jungle; you’re incredibly hot, continuously soaking wet and with nowhere to hide from potentially horrendous results, it could have been a really bad day!
“Ultimately though, it was the camaraderie, the togetherness, and of course the banter of the Welsh Guards that got me through that period, and it’s a time I look back on fondly.”
He ended the speech with the regiment’s motto, Cymru am byth, which is Welsh for Wales forever.
The couple then took part in the annual tradition of presenting handmade leeks to officers and soldiers to wear on their chests. Officers and soldiers then distributed them among the ranks.
The parade finished with brass bands playing Welsh anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, followed by God Save The King, before William took the royal salute.
William and Kate later sat for an official photo with the Prince of Wales’s company before they met families from the regiment as well as members of the 5th Royal Australian regiment who are in the UK helping to trai the Ukrainian army.
Thomas Lucas, nine, performed a back flip for Kate as she met families.
He said: “It was actually quite nerve-wracking because I didn’t really land it but she was impressed.”
His father, Sergeant Gareth Lucas, said it was “typical” behaviour for his son who is “non-stop.”
Megan Davis, who travels from Swansea every year to attend the parade, said she was impressed Kate sang the Welsh national anthem in Welsh during the parade.
She said: “I was looking to the right and then she was shaking my hand. She was very sweet.”
