“No part of Kate’s wardrobe is unplanned,” said stylist Leanne Jones

Kate Middleton attends the 2026 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2026 in Aldershot, England.Credit : Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImage

Did Kate Middleton weave a deeper meaning into her braided updo on St. Patrick’s Day?

The Princess of Wales and honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards stepped out to attend the regiment’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, arriving with her tresses in a thoughtful hairstyle.

Princess Kate, 44, wore her long chestnut brown hair slicked back in a braided updo, topped with a deep green hat that perfectly matched her outfit, and her hairstyle may have been inspired by Celtic style.

Fashion stylist Leanne Jones told Hello! magazine, “The braided twist into a neat knot here is a particularly elegant touch, and I wonder if it brings a sense of subtle storytelling. The braid could be interpreted as a nod to Irish heritage and Celtic folklore, where traditional hairstyles often featured intricate plaits symbolizing status and identity.”

Kate Middleton attends the 2026 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2026 in Aldershot, England.Samir Hussein/WireImage

“No part of Kate’s wardrobe is unplanned, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the combination of rich green tones and this braided detail were a quiet tribute to Ireland today,” she added.

The Princess of Wales sported a similar look at the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day parade in March 2025, when she wore her hair in a knotted chignon.

That look drew comparisons to the Triquetra, or Irish Trinity Knot, an ancient symbol closely associated with Celtic culture that’s a popular sign across Ireland.

(Left) Kate Middleton during the 2025 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Wellington Barracks on March 17, 2025 in London; (Right) The Celtic Trinity Knot or Triquetra.Chris Jackson/Getty; Balefire9/Getty

Princess Kate also pinned on a special accessory for the parade on Tuesday, wearing the Irish Guards’ gold shamrock brooch for a festive finish.

The Princess of Wales has a longstanding relationship with the Irish Guards and has attended the regiment’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade most years since marrying Prince William in 2011. The Prince of Wales, 43, had been the Colonel of the Irish Guards and even wore the unit’s scarlet tunic on his royal wedding day to Kate.

In 2022, King Charles named Kate as the new honorary Colonel of the unit in a reshuffling of royal roles following his accession to the throne. Princess Kate, who has proudly called herself “Colonel Catherine,” has supported the regiment in the official position ever since, both on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

Kate Middleton presents traditional sprigs of shamrock to Officers and Guardsmen of the Irish Guards during the 2026 Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2026 in Aldershot, England.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate presented sprigs of shamrock to the Officers and Guardsmen at the parade on Tuesday, where she also accepted a salute, watched a march-past, awarded medals and smiled for official photos.

After the pageantry, she joined the soldiers and their families in the Sergeant’s Mess, where she took a tiny sip of Guinness during the traditional toast, days after recently revealing that she’s scaled back alcohol after navigating a cancer diagnosis in 2024.