Irish Guards Cadets meet Royalty

A selected group of Northern Irelands Army Cadets and Instructors had the honour of parading with 1^st Bn, The Irish Guards on St Patricks Day at Mons Barracks, Aldershot.

The parade was presided over by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who inspected the troops and presented Shamrocks, as is the tradition of the Irish Regiments.

This, once in a lifetime opportunity, meant that the many of the Irish Guards cadets got to meet and even chat to the Duke and Duchess and during the parade.

But that’s not all they got to do. When in London and thanks to the hard work and commitment of their Adult Volunteers, the Cadets had the opportunity to visit The Guards Museum at Wellington Barracks where they were given a bit of an insight into the Regiment that their Cadet Detachment is affiliated too and also, the National Army Museum. They had a high thrill ride in a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) tour across the Thames and got to visit the HMS Belfast on its 75^th anniversary.

Particularly memorable, was the opportunity to pose for photographs in uniform outside 10 Downing Street! When NI cadets rarely get to wear uniform “outside the wire”, the chance to wear it in such well-known and respected locations was something very special.