A speech delivered by The Prince of Wales at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Published
I may be stepping aside, but in Colonel Catherine you have a committed, focussed, and already incredibly loyal 11th Colonel.
Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Guardsmen, and families of the Irish Guards.
Whilst I am extremely happy to be here celebrating St Patrick’s Day with you once again, I’m incredibly sad to be giving this speech, as it really does mean my time as your Colonel has come to an end. It has been one of the great honours of my life to hold that title; I’m proud of everything it stands for – just as I’m immensely proud of every single one of you.
My first experience with the Irish Guards came at Sandhurst in the formidable ‘presence’ of Colour Sergeant Parke – of course, you know him now as Major Parke; The living embodiment of what it means to be a fighting Irish Guardsman, and the reason I feared coming back for my second term!
It’s also no secret that while at Sandhurst I had a potential officers visit to the Irish Guards, an experience that placed this Battalion firmly at the top of my personal wish list. Operational reasons alone prevented me serving my front-line years with The Micks.
I have however, relished every opportunity to visit you – I just wish the opportunities had been far more frequent. From exercises and range days here in the UK, to training overseas – such as Kenya in 2018 – I have such vivid memories of witnessing what you do so brilliantly in the field.
Your work in Africa alone has been inspirational to so many, and I am hugely grateful for all you have achieved in this vital area, but when you put this alongside your operational list, the tempo has been staggering. Operations Herrick, Tosca, Temperer, Trenton, Shader, Rescript, Interflex, with deployments to the Falklands, Thailand, and Belize to name but a few – a lot has been asked of you, but you’ve delivered in spades.
I would now like to speak directly to the families gathered here today. I hope you know how truly grateful I am to all of you too. On this, my 13th and final St Patrick’s Day as Colonel, not only am I saddened that I’ll likely fail once again to finish a pint of Guinness… but I am also sad that I won’t in future see more of you, the families, whose unwavering support enables these outstanding men and women to do what they do.
I may be stepping aside, but in Colonel Catherine you have a committed, focussed, and already incredibly loyal 11th Colonel.
As you serve together over the years ahead, know that I will continue to watch you, with huge pride in having been one of you.
Before I finish though, I would like to pay tribute to a great Irish Guardsman, who died last week. Major General Sir Sebastian Roberts – or ‘Colonel Sebastian’ as we all knew him – was my predecessor as Colonel. Loved by generations of Irish Guardsmen and many, many others, he was, quite simply, a phenomenon. I was proud to know him, and I extend mine and Colonel Catherine’s heartfelt condolences to Lady Roberts and his family, and to you – his other family: the Irish Guards.
Quis Separabit.
Good luck to you all, Godspeed, and thank you.
Related content
Volunteers' Week 2020
The Royal Family and Coronavirus
The Duke of Cambridge becomes Patron of the National Emergencies Trust
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.
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.
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...
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.
The Duke of Cambridge visits Kuwait and Oman
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.
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.
The Duke of Cambridge 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.
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.
A message from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to The President of Pakistan
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 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...
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.
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.
Heads Up
The King's Cup
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at the Child Bereavement UK 25th Birthday Gala Dinner
With great sympathy and sensitivity, you have spent the last 25 years working with children, young people and families to help them navigate the difficult path of grief.
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at the launch of a new River Thames safety campaign
Every life lost and every life-changing accident is one too many. And that is why you are all gathered here today. To raise awareness of these dangers, and to work together to...
The Duke of Cambridge and the FA launch 'Heads Up' mental health campaign
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at a United for Wildlife Joint Taskforce meeting
It has taken a lot of hard work – and real commitment – to get to the point where you are all sitting here together today. And we should all feel proud that we’re starting to...