A look back at how Colonel Kate has deployed a 'secret weapon' to wow the Irish Guards (and the rest of us) each St Patrick's Day...

The Princess of Wales will miss this St Patrick's Day on March 17 For more than a decade, the Princess of Wales has taken part in the ceremony to hand out shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day. For her first St Patrick's day as Colonel of the Regiment, Kate wore Catherine Walker in Teal The shamrock remained green however, and it obscured a gold shamrock brooch Colonel Catherine opted for a bespoke coatdress with matching Gianvito Rossi pumps and a Jane Taylor hat, topping off the stylish outfit with a gold Cartier shamrock brooch which has a rich royal history. Trimmed with fur at the collar and cuffs, this cosy coat was another example of the Kate’s pitch perfect maternity wardrobe and was accessorised with a pair of Tod’s suede heels and a Gina Foster hat which she first wore on St Patrick's Day in 2014. 2017 As Kate made her annual trip to honour the Irish Guards for St Patrick's Day after missing the celebrations the previous year, she opted for a new Catherine Walker coat. A chestnut brown number by Catherine Walker for 2015 The royal accessorised her maternity look with Emmy pumps in coordinating brown and a Lock & Co pillbox hat which she had also worn to her first St Patrick's Day event in 2012, adding some sparkle with Kiki McDonough Citrine drop earrings.