‘Might see you down there’: Kate would ‘love’ to visit Australia again

Catherine told an Australian reservist with the Irish Guardsmen Prince George was ‘fascinated’ with Australia as she sipped a Guinness with them to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

Catherine, Princess of Wales in her role as Colonel, Irish Guards, takes a sip of Guinness during a visit to the 2025 Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade at Wellington Barracks in London. Picture: Getty Images.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has said she would love to return to Australia on an official royal tour and bring her children.

Catherine made the remarks to Irish Guardsmen and their families in the Sergeants’ Mess at Wellington Barracks after she had put some money behind the bar to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

She told Corporal Adam Hamilton, an Australian reservist, how her eldest son, Prince George “finds it fascinating” that he has been to Australia and New Zealand.

George was just eight months old when he embarked on his first royal visit with his parents, visiting Australia and New Zealand back in 2014, and even having a Bilby named in his honour at Taronga Zoo.

Princess Catherine poses for the official Sergeants' Mess photo at Wellington Barracks. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images.

The Princess, who is colonel of the Irish Guard’s regiment, said: “I would like to go back there with them now. It’s finding time to do that. But I love to travel – yes, it’s a long flight.

“But I love the Middle East because that’s familiar to me from growing up. There are so many opportunities now to travel, I think it’s brilliant to experience it.

“We tend to go further afield when it’s official visits, it’s being able to carve out time to experience these countries in a more private capacity.

“Because otherwise you end up seeing lots of insides of amazing buildings but you don’t get to meet that many people

“It’s making sure that you can combine a bit of work with the children. I might see you down there!”

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, courtiers had been making plans for Catherine and her husband Prince William to visit Australia with their three children, Princess Charlotte Prince Louis and George, trying to find a time in the diaries that coincided with school holidays.

But those plans were turned upside down because of lockdowns. Then after Queen Elizabeth II died, it was more diplomatic for the new King to visit Down Under.

Catherine was in fine form, sipping on a Guinness and telling section commanders that “these trends come and go” in reference to Prince William’s beard.

Last year Catherine missed being able to salute the Irish Guards at the St Patrick’s Day parade because she was recovering from abdominal surgery. She would later learn she had to undergo chemotherapy for cancer.

As well as chatting to the soldiers and their families Catherine knelt down and patted the regiment’s mascot, Seamus, a lovely Irish wolfhound.