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The royals embrace the luck of the Irish in stunning green fashion, just in time for St Patrick’s Day

Get your shamrock ready.
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The royals never miss a chance to celebrate the United Kingdom, and they play a key role in the Saint Patrick’s Day traditions celebrated across Great Britain.

The Queen Mother was previously responsible for presenting a bowl of Irish shamrocks to the members of the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army, for the soldiers to wear.

This traditional role has been the responsibility of a female member of the royal family since its inception in 1901, but controversially in 2016 Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was absent from the proceedings, saying that she wished to spend the day with her children at the time.

The Duchess then resumed the royal tradition, attending in 2017, 2018 and again in 2019, when she wore a stunning green Alexander McQueen coat.

Duchess Catherine and Prince William know how to celebrate St Patrick’s Day!

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Saint Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday that falls on March 17. Traditionally, it is a Christian feast day, but in modern times it has become a celebration of all things Irish, that is celebrated worldwide.

But in 2020, things changed for the royal family as they were unable to celebrate the special day due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead sharing tributes on social media.

Things looked a little different in 2021 as well, but 2022 saw the royals return to their annual outing for the Irish holiday, complete with green style statements.

Of course, St Patrick’s Day isn’t the only time members of the royal family don their finest emerald, veridian and forest green styles.

Keep scrolling to see some of the best green royal fashion moments through the years – just in time for St Patrick’s Day.

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Catherine wore this chic belted coat dress by Lauren Green London, which retails for $5,700, for St. Patrick’s Day in 2022, pairing it with a pillbox hat from Lock & Co and her trusty Emmy London Rebecca Greenery suede pumps. She kept her jewellery minimal, opting for a small pair of emerald and diamond drop earrings and a shamrock brooch she pinned to her lapel.

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Zara Tindall opted for a blue-green coat and matching green handbag as she and husband Mike headed to Cheltenham racecourse the same day.

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Princess Anne also donned green in the lead up to St Patrick’s Day in 2022, chooding this vibrant coat with emerald green velvet trim to attend Cheltenham Festival on march 16.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge coordinated with pops of green for a visit to Wales in 2022.

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This deep green velvet number stole the show while Camilla attended a reception to celebrate the British Asian Trust in 2022.

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On a rare outing with Catherine, Camilla chose this unique emerald coat dress.

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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge joins Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall for an event

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There’s no denying this was one of Catherine’s finest fashion moments of 2021, as she attended the Royal Variety Performance in a green sequinned gown by Jenny Packham.

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She previously wore the stunning gown during her and Prince William’s 2019 tour of Pakistan.

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Prince William stole the show in this deep green velvet blazer at the first Earthshot Prize Awards in London in 2021.

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Her Majesty loves a pop of colour! She chose this vibrant green coat and matching hat to attend The Royal Windsor Cup in 2021.

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Princess Anne looked cosy in this pastel green pea coat for a 2021 outing in Camberley, England.

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The Duchess of Cambridge donned another green frock to attend Wimbledon in 2021.

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Camilla couldn’t help but laugh in this chic green ensemble as she visited Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2020 and her little terrier Beth stole the show.

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To mark St Patrick’s Day in 2020, Charles and Camilla shared this photo from their 2019 visit to Hillsborough Castle in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We adore Camilla’s green coat and Charles’ subtle matching tie.

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Meghan and Harry coordingated their green ensembles for their final official royal engagement in March 2020, the duchess donning a vibrant Emilia Wickstead while Harry had a peek of green in the lining of his suit.

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Catherine sure knows how to rock a long coat! This elegant outfit was fitting for the chilly weather as she visited City Hall in Bradford’s Centenary Square in 2020.

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Kate Ireland 2020

During Catherine and William’s royal tour of Ireland in March 2020, Kate stunned royal watchers in a glittering green dress by the Vampire’s wife. Despite not attending any public events for the actual St Patrick’s Day a few weeks later in light of the Coronavirus, this glimmering green look was more than enough to tide us over.

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Kate Middleton Guinness

Oh, and would it really be a trip to Ireland without knocking back a hefty pint of Guinness?

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In fact, Catherine donned a number of stand-out green ensembles during her and Prince William’s 2020 tour of Ireland, including this delightful printed frock she paired with a dark green headband and coat.

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A black belt and chic clutch were the perfect accessories for this more casual green dress on the same tour.

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The Duchess of Sussex chose this understated emerald frock to attend the WellChild awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel in 2019, just five months after giving birth to Archie. It was the same one she wore to announce her and Prince Harry’s engagement two years before.

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In 2019 Catherine donned this vivid green Catherine Walker coat while touring Pakistan with William.

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Kate Middleton wears a green Catherine Walker coat for lunch in Pakistan

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2019 Alexander McQueen

In 2019, Kate opted for a gorgeous Alexander McQueen coat for the St Patrick’s Day festivities. It was the last time the family was able to celebrate the holiday in-person before the pandemic.

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2019 Kate

Along with her Lock and Co hat, Kate accessorised the coat with the very special golden shamrock brooch. Crafted by Cartier, the brooch is understood to have been presented to Princess Mary in 1961. It has since been worn by other royals including Princess Anne and the Queen Mother.

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The Duchess of Cambridge cracked out this frock in 2019 for an appearance at Wimbledon alongside sister-in-law Meghan, but it was far from the first time she’s worn it.

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2016 Kate LK Bennett

She first wore the Dolce & Gabbana number teamed with LK Bennett nude heels while visiting University of British Columbia in Okanagan during a tour of Canada in 2016.

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Kate LK Bennet

Catherine’s dress even worked while spectating a volleyball game that same day.

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2019 Meghan

And in an almost twinning moment, Meghan stepped out just a week before St Patrick’s Day in 2019 for the Commonwealth Day celebrations. This gorgeous green Erdem coat and wool dress is all kinds of heavenly.

British Royal Family
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2017 Trooping the colour

You really couldn’t miss Britain’s longest serving sovereign at the 2017 Trooping The Colour ceremony. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex explains why the Queen always wears bright colours.

“Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen’s hat as she went past.”

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Queen green 2

The Queen was spotted out and about that same year, boarding a train in Norfolk bound for London. She was a monarch not to be missed in this lime-coloured coat, complete with a matching dress.

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Queen balloons

At a meet and greet with the public for her 90th birthday celebrations in 2016, the Queen wore a cheery mint green coat.

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Kate coat 2

In 2016 Kate donned this $472 coat in Canada with a fresh pair of cream heels and a maple leaf tartan scarf draped casually over arm, paying homage to her host nation.

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Kate green coat tartan

Temperatures are usually below 0°C in the Yukon, where the couple were visiting – yikes!

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Hobbs 1

But she first wore the coat from Hobbs back in 2014 to a St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot.

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2015 Rugby

Prince Philip shares a laugh with Prince Harry during the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, and he chose a military green coat for the occasion.

Prince William, Kate and Prince Harry
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Tour de France

Catherine wore a geometric green coat to watch the launch of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire.

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Beatrice

It’s all in the family! In 2014, Princess Beatrice also wore this teal-coloured lace dress while joining the relatives at Royal Ascot.

Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall
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Camilla

And it seems green was the colour of the year for the royal fold – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wore a mint green design by Fiona Clare to Royal Ascot in 2014.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine
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Kate green top

That same year, all eyes were on Duchess Catherine when she stepped out at the Chelsea Flower Show.

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Elizabeth D-Day

And even the Queen of colour herself went all out in 2014, stepping out in a delightfully green ensemble for D-Day Commemorations.

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Queen Elizabeth II arrives at her 90th birthday celebration

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Emilia Wickstead

In 2013, Duchess Catherine braved the rain to present the Irish Shamrocks. The Duchess wore a military-inspired Emilia Wickstead dress coat, and was five months pregnant at the time with Prince George.

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2012

Like no time has passed at all, let’s rewind back to 2012 – Catherine’s first St Patrick’s Day parade. The Duchess wore a forest green coat and the gorgeous Irish Guards brooch.

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Tartan

And why mess with a classic? It’s clear Catherine couldn’t help but bat for Alexander McQueen – so long as it’s green! She wore this iconic tartan coat that same year during a visit to her old prep school.

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Diane von Furstenberg

And Kate was never a stranger to the bold and bright colour – while we may be used to seeing this royal in neutrals, Catherine looked California-cool in a green dress by Diane von Furstenberg (L), worn in July 2011 during a trip to LA.

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Diana, Harry, Wills

Like mother, like son! A young Prince Harry wears a classic olive-hued tweed jacket.

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Diana paired this vivid Catherine Walker frock with a sparkling tiara in 1993.

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Diana Trooping

And again, Princess Diana donned green when she and her children, Prince William and Prince Harry, watched Trooping The Colour on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1988.

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Diana

Princess Diana was also a fan of the traditional Irish hue. Here, she stuns in an emerald green dress, matching bejewelled choker and the Spencer diamond tiara at a banquet at Claridges in 1988.

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A proud mum in green! Diana introduced little Prince William to the press during a royal tour of New Zealand in this iconic emerald frock.

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Diana favoured green hues while pregnant too, as seen in these photos from 1982, while she was pregnant with William.

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Queen green 3

The Queen has been styling in green since way back – the Queen is photographed here wearing an emerald, tartan ensemble.

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Queen green 4

And again! Queen Elizabeth II relaxes in green at Sandringham with her corgis, circa 1970.

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