The Prince and Princess of Wales attend the Welsh Guards St David's Day Parade

Published

This parade was the first time The Prince of Wales has visited the Welsh Guards since becoming Colonel of the Regiment.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with the Welsh Guards

During the parade, The Prince of Wales presented leeks to the Officers and Guardsmen who in turn issued it along the ranks, a traditional part of the St David’s Day Parade.

The Prince and princess of Wales with the Welsh Guards

The parade concluded with a march-past where His Royal Highness took the Royal Salute and gave a speech:

I am both honoured and delighted to be standing here in front of you today as your new Colonel.  At the same time, I’m sorry that my father couldn’t be here with us here today to say farewell, but I know he would talk of his fierce pride and admiration for you all, and of his own sadness to be moving on from an appointment he held so dear since 1975.

Following the parade, Their Royal Highnesses sat for an official photo with The Prince of Wales’s company.

The Prince and Princess then met families from the Regiment as well as a group of troops from the 5th Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) who are currently in the UK helping to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Princess accepts a posy

The Welsh Guards was raised on 26 February 1915 by order of King George V, in order to complete the national complement of regiments of Foot Guards identified with the countries of the United Kingdom.

The Prince of Wales with a soldier from the Welsh Guards

On inception the Regiment took its place alongside the English Grenadier Guards and Coldstream Guards, the Scots Guards and the Irish Guards. Two days later, the Battalion mounted its first King's Guard at Buckingham Palace on 1 March 1915 - St David's Day.

The King was Colonel of the Regiment from 1975-2022. His Majesty is now Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiments of Household Division. 

Related content

A Speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the Museum of Literature, Dublin

Today, our relationship goes far beyond two countries that are simply neighbours. “We are firm friends and equal partners”, as my grandmother put it.

04 March 2020

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at a SportsAid event, London Stadium

You may not always feel appreciated, or sometimes even noticed on the sidelines, in the car park or sitting high in the stands. But I am so proud that SportsAid recognises how...

26 February 2020
Press release 24 February 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Ireland

Read more

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at a reception for the Metropolitan and City Police Orphans Fund

Our society is defined by how we look after those who keep us all safe. It matters deeply that we help the families who play such an important role in supporting them.

12 February 2020

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the UK-Africa Investment Summit

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, Catherine and I are delighted to welcome you to Buckingham Palace for this reception to mark the...

20 January 2020

A message from The Duke of Cambridge to the people of Oman

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Omani people, and wish to send a personal message of friendship as Oman mourns the death of His Majesty.

11 January 2020
Feature

An Open Letter from The Duchess of Cambridge to Midwives

The Duchess of Cambridge has written an open letter to midwives across the country
Press release 03 December 2019

New patronage announced for The Duchess of Cambridge

Read more
Feature

The Duke of Cambridge visits Kuwait and Oman

Find out more about the programme for His Royal Highness's visit

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the Tusk Conservation Awards

My generation and those following are acutely aware that we cannot simply carry on as we are.

21 November 2019
Press release 19 November 2019

The Duke of Cambridge's visit to Kuwait and Oman

Read more

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the opening of The Nook Children’s Hospice, Norfolk

Thank you, John. It is wonderful to be here today to open The Nook Hospice. And a huge congratulations to everyone here involved. The Nook is a realisation of a vision that...

15 November 2019

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the opening of The Nook Children’s Hospice, Norfolk

Your hugely dedicated and talented team are at the core of this success and I wanted especially today to thank you

15 November 2019

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge the Centrepoint 50th Anniversary Gala

It might seem an odd thing to say at a milestone event such as this, but I hope that Centrepoint will not need to be around in another 50 years.

13 November 2019
Feature

The Duke of Cambridge marks 50 years of Centrepoint

The Duke of Cambridge, Patron since 2005, marks 50 years of Centrepoint

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the London's Air Ambulance Charity gala

The trauma teams working with London’s Air Ambulance are world class.

07 November 2019

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust

Whenever and wherever disaster strikes here in the UK, this country has a unique way of pulling together.

07 November 2019
Feature

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Pakistan

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex undertake a Royal visit to Pakistan

A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan

The view from this hill would have been quite different when my grandmother, The Queen, first visited over half a century ago. Looking out, one would have seen the beginnings...

15 October 2019
News

World Mental Health Day 2019

10 October 2019
Press release 04 October 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Pakistan

Read more

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the naming ceremony for the RRS Sir David Attenborough

The RRS Sir David Attenborough is a testament to the cutting-edge science and engineering expertise right here on Merseyside.

26 September 2019

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the opening of BAFTA Piccadilly

BAFTA is an excellent British institution, and a unique charity with a truly global reach.

16 September 2019

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the ‘Back to Nature’ festival at RHS Wisley Garden

The Back to Nature Festival is a fitting finale to a project I have been thrilled to be part of.

10 September 2019
Feature

Heads Up

The Duke of Cambridge, Heads Together & the Football Association talking Mental Health.
Feature

The King's Cup

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will host the inaugural regatta The King’s Cup in 2019
Press release 25 June 2019

New patronage announced for The Duchess of Cambridge

Read more
News

Garter Day 2019

14 June 2019

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the Action on Addiction Gala Dinner

What’s remarkable about Action on Addiction is that it goes beyond helping those who are suffering on the courageous journey into recovery – it also lends direct support to...

12 June 2019