Pregnant Kate Attends St Patrick's Day Parade

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have braved wet weather to attend a St Patrick's Day parade at a military barracks.

Kate, who is five months pregnant, wore the same green dress coat she wore to the event last year to meet soldiers from the Ist Battalion Irish Guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire.

Prince William wore ceremonial dress as the pair stood on a podium sheltered from the rain and listened to the National Anthem.

The Duchess presented traditional sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen, and also to her husband.

Afterwards, the royal couple chatted to soldiers in the Guardsmens' cookhouse.

Guardsman Lee Wheeler, 29, said: "I was talking to her about the baby, of course. I asked her 'do you know if it's a girl or boy', and she said 'not yet'.

"She said 'I'd like to have a boy and William would like a girl'. That's always the way.

"I asked her if she had any names yet and she said no. I said I suppose you've got to stick to traditional names."

The presentation of shamrocks by a senior female member of the royal family is a century-old tradition which was started by Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII, in 1901.

The role was famously carried out by the Queen Mother.

Kate, who wore a black hat with her hair up, finished off her outfit with black tights and heels.

Ahead of watching the parade the Duchess suffered an embarrassing mishap when the heel of one of her shoes became stuck in a drain.

Kate had to lean on William while she pulled it out with her hand.

The last sprig of shamrock was given to the regiment's new mascot, seven-month-old Irish wolfhound Domhnall, who was carrying out his first public engagement.

The royals looked on from the podium as about 200 soldiers paraded through the puddle-strewn square, bringing a splash of colour to the occasion in their full ceremonial uniform of scarlet tunics and bearskins.

They were led by the Band of the Irish Guards.