Kate Middleton’s St. Paddy’s Day Good Luck Charm Goes Way Back

Perhaps Kermit the Frog was wrong: It is easy being green, at least when you're Kate Middleton. In fact, many women might be green with envy over her tasteful head-to-toe emerald St. Patrick's Day look. For the past two years the Duchess of Cambridge has worn the same fit-and-flare Emilia Wickstead coat to celebrate the Irish holiday, but this year she switched it up in perhaps an even more flattering green double-breasted Hobbs Persephone wool coat. She completed the look with a matching green pumps and a Gina Foster hat (the same one she wore last Christmas), and perhaps most significantly, a recognizable sparkling Cartier shamrock brooch.

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The gold three-leaf shamrock pin, adorned with an emerald stone in the middle, was first worn by Queen Alexandra in 1901. It was then that Alexandra began the tradition of the shamrock ceremony, presenting lucky sprigs to 1st Battalion Irish Guards. (This year Middleton also presented one to the Battalion's mascot, Domhnall the Irish Wolfhound.) Also of note: The Cartier piece is not actually owned by the royal family-it belongs to the Irish Guards Regiment, and has been lent out to the Queen Mother, Princess Anne, and eventually to the Duchess of Camrbidge for events, traditionally worn on left side.

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The first time Middleton wore the brooch was when she attended the the Irish Guards Afghanistan Operational Medals Parade at Victoria Barracks on June 25, 2011 in Windsor, England. In 2012, the Duchess of Cambridge adopted the role of presenting the shamrocks while wearing the brooch, and she's on St. Patrick's Day every year since. Following this year's parade march, Prince William and Kate Middleton-who hold the Irish title of Baron and Lady Carrickfergus-went to the Guardsmens' cookhouse and the Officers' Mess to celebrate the holiday.

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Related links:
The Rise and Fall of Kate Middleton's Hemlines
Kate Middleton's Glam Brooch
Kate Middleton's St. Patrick's Day Style