Prince William and Kate Middleton to Visit 1st Battalion Irish Guards at St. Patrick's Day Parade

Royal couple will be on hand for yearly event at Mons Barracks in Aldershot

By Peter Gicas Mar 05, 2014 5:16 PMTags
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of CambridgeChris Jackson/Getty Images

Talk about lucky.

The 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be visited by Prince William and Kate Middleton at the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17 at Mons Barracks in Aldershot.

According to a royal press release sent out on Wednesday, the Duke of Cambridge will attend the parade as Colonel of the Regiment while the Duchess of Cambridge will present the traditional sprigs of shamrocks to the Officers and Guardsmen of the Regiment.

The royal couple will watch 300 soldiers as they march onto the parade square at the base.

John Stillwell/PA Wire/Press Association via AP Images

Meanwhile, come April, William and Kate's son Prince George will make his first official public appearance.

The 7-month-old will attend an event for new parents and their babies in Wellington with his mom and dad.

The trip also marks Kate's first visit to Australia and New Zealand, which she'll be flying to with her husband thanks to Queen Elizabeth II, who had to give a special dispensation for the royal couple to travel together.

The duke and duchess decided to bring their little one along on the trip since they didn't want to be away from him for three weeks.

After they touch down in Wellington, the trio will attend a ceremonial welcome, and following a day of rest they'll head to an event for Plunket nurses who provide assistance for new parents and their babies—the event George is expected to attend with them.

Next, they'll tackle days of commitments, including visits to the Aviation Heritage Center with Hobbit director Peter Jackson, Auckland Harbor, Pacific Aerospace and the Royal New Zealand Police College, just to name a few.

Prince William also made his first visit to Australia and New Zealand when he was a baby.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles took their 9-month-old son with them in 1983 on their visit, which was considered unconventional at the time because it broke protocol that two heirs, Prince Charles and Prince William, should not take the same flight.