Prince William

In pictures: Welsh Guards mark St David's Day with Prince and Princess of Wales

HRH Princess of Wales meets friends and family of members of the Welsh Guards at St. David’s Day in Windsor — The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a parade marking St David's Day in Windsor (Picture: MOD).

HRH The Prince and Princess of Wales take the time for a group photo after St. DavidÕs Day Parade in Windsor 010323 CREDIT MOD — Prince William is now the new Royal Colonel of the regiment, taking over from King Charles (Picture: MOD).

HRH The Prince of Wales takes the salute at the St. David's Day Parade in Windsor — His Royal Highness took the salute at the parade, which marks personnel's switch from operational to ceremonial duties (Picture: MOD).

HRH Prince of Wales presents members of the Welsh Guards with handmade leeks at St. David’s Day parade in Windsor — Prince William handed out handmade leeks, the Welsh Guard's traditional emblem, to personnel on parade (Picture: MOD).

HRH Prince of Wales presents members of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) of the Australian Army with handmade leeks at St David's Day celebration — Members of the 5th Royal Australian Regiment of the Australian Army joined the Welsh Guards on parade, having helped deliver training to Ukrainian personnel in the UK (Picture: MOD).

The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards celebrated St David's Day in Windsor with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Princess and Prince William, the new Royal Colonel of the Welsh Guards, attended the celebration with the battalion which is 91% Welsh.

The Welsh Guards paraded at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, alongside the Band of the Welsh Guards on Wednesday.

They were presented with leeks, an emblem both traditional and central to the battalion, by Prince William while the Princess of Wales handed out leeks to family members at the parade.

After three cheers for the Prince of Wales, the Welsh Guards marched off the parade to continue the celebrations with their families.

Watch: Prince and Princess of Wales join the Welsh Guards to celebrate St David's Day.

After an official photo to mark the milestone, the Prince and Princess of Wales were escorted to a reception to meet members of the battalion and their loved ones.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel John Livesey said the day is special for the battalion as it marks the day they "mounted our first King's Guard and began our service to the Monarch" in 1915.

"It is therefore particularly special and fitting that on St David's Day, we get to welcome HRH the Prince of Wales into the family as our new Royal Colonel," he said.

"Cymru Am Byth (Wales forever)."

Traditionally marking the start of Spring, St David's Day is also a marker of the Guards' change of role – from operational to ceremonial.

The battalion's dual-role soldiers will now begin preparing for the Coronation of King Charles, as well as His Majesty's birthday parade, at which they will Troop their Colour.