The Origin of the Royal gift
of Shamrock dates back to the Regiments first St Patrick's Day
in 1901. They returned from Church wearing their own Shamrock
when at 1030 an Orderly of the Life Guards arrived at Chelsea
Barracks from Marlborough House with four boxes of Shamrock
with a note addressed to the Colonel of the Regiment. The note
came from Queen Alexander, the wife of King Edward VII requesting
him to distribute it to the men on parade.
The Queen continued to give
this gift to Regiment until her death, and distributed it herself
in 1925. On the 26th February 1926, her Grand daughter, the
Princess Mary, who in 1931 was declared the Princess Royal,
signified her intentions of presenting Shamrock to the regiment.
In 1930, the Princess Royal
distributed it herself and on the 50th anniversary of the Regiment
King George VI honored us by distributing the Shamrock in person
at Chelsea Barracks, London.
The Princess Royal presented
it once again in person in 1957, 1961 and 1964, the year before
her death.
The presentation of shamrock
was then continued by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother, and in 1968 she distributed it herself to the Battalion
at Pirbright, although she had distributed it as Duchess of
York in 1928. Her Majesty has continued this honour in person
every year, when her duties have allowed, including several
times in Oxford Barracks, Germany.
