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Irish Guards Shamrock brooch. Debunking some myths
Posted by Beth on December 6, 2018, 1:58 pm
While searching for another item relating to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, I came across this news item, stating that the Irish Guards' shamrock brooch, which had originally been given to Mary, Princess Royal, was to be presented to QEQM.
Belfast Telegraph 20 March 1968.
That prompted a hunt for additional information, the result being that a few myths unravelled including when the presentation of shamrocks started and that the brooch was not "returned" following the death of Mary, Princess Royal.
The presentation of shamrocks to the Irish Guards was initiated by Queen Alexandra in 1901.
First presentation in 1901
London Evening Standard 18 March 1901
It is important to note that what Queen Alexandra initiated was the donation of the shamrocks; she, herself, did not attend a St Patrick's Day presentation until 1920.
Each year on St Patrick's Day, or soon after, the media carried reports of Queen Alexandra sending her gift of shamrocks to the headquarters of the Irish Guards.
There are numerous reports attesting to the fact that it is the gift of the shamrocks which is the tradition among the royal ladies. Below are two typical reports.
Belfast Telegraph 20 March 1960
Belfast Telegraph 20 March 1964
The first time I found reports of a royal lady (as opposed to the commanding officer or Colonel) distributing the shamrocks was in 1916 when Queen Mary distributed the shamrocks to the officers, although the press still noted that the shamrocks were the gift of Queen Alexandra.
Illustrated War News 22 March 1916.
The next distribution/presentation by a royal lady was by Queen Alexandra in 1920.
After Queen Alexandra's death, Mary, Princess Royal continued the tradition of providing the shamrocks, some years distributing them herself, but not in others. Below I cite only two of the many instances where a royal lady has not personally presented the shamrocks.
For example in 1932 the shamrocks were donated by Princess Mary and presented by Lord Cavan.
In 1950 in honour of the half century celebrations for the Irish Guards the shamrocks were presented by the King, even though the Princess Royal was present and had, as usual, donated the shamrocks.
King presenting shamrocks
1950 St Patrick's Day. Princess Royal is in military uniform on the right
It is this tradition -- the donation of the shamrocks -- which is continued today by the Duchess of Cambridge. Like other royal ladies, she does not inevitably personally present the shamrocks each year. So the backlash in the UK press in 2016 when the Duchess did not present the shamrocks personally was totally unwarranted. The Duchess did not break a long standing tradition.
The Brooch
I couldn't find a press report of the brooch having been presented to the Princess Royal, but according to James Wilson who wrote Up the Micks!: An illustrated history of the Irish Guards the brooch was presented in 1961. After the death of the Princess Royal in 1965 the brooch, which had been made by Cartier, was included in the auction of some of HRH's jewels and was purchased by the regiment.
The brooch was presented to QEQM in 1968, the first year in which she personally presented the shamrocks even though she took over the donation immediately following the death of the Princess Royal.
Daily Telegraph 13 January 1966.
QEQM wearing the brooch
Princess Royal
Today the brooch is worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. According to James Wilson in Up the Micks! Princess Anne, the Princess Royal (who took on the tradition of donating and presenting the shamrocks after the death of QEQM) decided that, as the wife of the current Colonel, the Duchess should be the one to donate the shamrocks.
The brooch is not a Regimental badge, although the shamrock is an integral part of the badge. I suspect the brooch was given as a token of appreciation for the generosity of Mary, the Princess Royal having donated the shamrocks for such a long period of time. As the Princess Royal seems to have worn military uniform when she attended the St Patrick's Day ceremonies, I wonder if she considered that a "plain" item would have been more appropriate to wear on such an occasion? I personally doubt if the regiment would have flinched at the cost of a diamond encrusted brooch. It may also be that the plainer style was a reflection of design trends of the era. What ever the scenario, the use of a single shamrock highlighted both the gift of shamrocks and the identity of the regiment.
As well as wearing the brooch on St Patrick's Day the Duchess of Cambridge
has also worn it for an engagement in Northern Ireland.
Re: Irish Guards Shamrock brooch. Debunking some myths
In early 1928 it was announced that QEQM, then the Duchess of York, would distribute the shamrocks to the Irish Guards. I couldn't resist posting this image of a very tall guardsman with HM -- this is a "tradition" the press seems to have enjoyed throughout the years.
1928
I found it interesting that HM did this presentation as there is no evidence I have seen in the press that Mary, Princess Royal distributed the shamrocks in person until 1930.
In 2000, the centenary year for the regiment, HM was again photographed with very tall guardsmen. From other photos from this occasion it is obvious that HM was wearing the brooch.
HM wore the brooch for the ceremonies for the formal celebration of the centenary in June 2000.
The final interaction between the Queen and the Irish Guards -- her funeral, when Irish guards were her pall bearers.
Re: Irish Guards Shamrock brooch. Debunking some myths