Rachel Fieldhouse
Beauty & Style

Toddler steals the show during royal visit

Prince William and Kate Middleton attended a St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot with the 1st  Battalion Irish Guards - but they weren’t the stars of this year’s show.

Lieutenant Colonel Rob Money’s young daughter, Gaia Moloney, attracted plenty of attention after he placed his bearskin hat over her head.

The Duke and Duchess couldn’t hold back their laughter as the 1.5-year-old stood patiently while her father balanced the large, fluffy black hat over her head.

Kate also accepted a posy from the young girl after kneeling down beside her and having a chat.

Other cute attendees the royal couple met included a baby in a red jumper, who Prince William cooed over, and an Irish wolfhound called Seamus, who is the regimental mascot.

William and Kate were dressed to the nines for the event, with the prince donning his full uniform as Colonel of the Irish Guards, and Kate styling a belted green coat dress with military detailing with green suede pumps, a pillbox-esque hat and a gold shamrock pin.

Though the pandemic forced them to skip the event for the past two years, the couple quickly returned to following tradition at this year’s event.

Kate was seen handing out Shamrock sprigs to members of the regiment - a custom begun by Queen Alexandra in 1901 - before the couple sat with officers and sergeants for the official mess photo.

They later visited the junior ranks dining hall, where the senior guardsman in the battalion proposed a toast to the royals.

Images: Getty Images

Tags:
Beauty & Style, Kate Middleton, Prince William, St Patrick's Day