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Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge waves as she presents shamrocks to members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at the St Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, 2012 at Mons Barracks, in Aldershot. Four-hundred fifty soldiers were on parade, accompanied by the regimental mascot Conmeal, an Irish wolfhound who received his own sprig of shamrock from the Duchess. This was her first solo military engagement and she will now inherit a tradition begun in 1901 by Queen Alexandra and more recently carried out for 32 years by the Queen Mother. Prince William is honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards. AFP PHOTO/ POOL/ PAUL VICENTE (Photo credit should read PAUL VICENTE/AFP/Getty Images)