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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge present operational service medals to the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
25th June 2011
The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute today to the "extraordinary" soldiers who, within days of returning from fighting in Afghanistan, took part in his marriage celebrations.
Six soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, swapped their combat uniforms for ceremonial dress to help out with the Royal wedding - with a handful returning to the UK just seven days earlier.
Wearing their famous bearskin hats and red tunics, the soldiers formed a Queen's Guard for the Royal wedding.
The Duke is Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Today, the Duke and Duchess presented operational medals to those who returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan in April.
The Duke said: "As Catherine and I rode through the centre gate of Buckingham Palace on our wedding day, there you were, formed up as the Queen's Guard with your commanding officer at your head.
"If ever there was an illustration of why the Foot Guards - and the Micks in particular - are special, that was it.
"To exchange combat kit for ceremonial uniform in the space of two weeks is nothing short of remarkable.
"To be amongst the most proficient in the world wearing both is just simply extraordinary."
Sergeant Paul Paterson, Regimental Police Sergeant, Irish Guards, said it was an honour to take part in the Royal wedding - even if it was a quick turn-around after his return from Afghanistan.
The 33-year-old, from Liverpool, said: "We only had seven days from the last man leaving Afghanistan to prepare. We had to get our bearskins, tunics and boots ready and to practise all the drill movements.
"But it is an honour to be a part of any royal historical event - with The Duke's ties to the Micks it made it extra special.
"It was also an honour to serve in Afghanistan but the Royal wedding will be talked about for years."
Before the medal parade, at Victoria Barracks in Windsor, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met privately with the families of three fallen servicemen and The Duke presented them posthumous Elizabeth Cross medals.
Guardsman Christopher Davies, Major Matthew Collins and Lance Sergeant Mark Burgan were all killed in action in Afghanistan.
The Duke and Duchess each handed out about 50 medals to the soldiers.
They both gave medals to two men wounded in the same blast that killed Maj Collins and LSgt Burgan.
The Duke awarded Guardsman Manneh, who lost both his legs and his left arm, and The Duchess handed a medal to Lance Corporal Scott Yarrington, 26, who had to have both his legs amputated as a result of the explosion.
The Duchess made her way down the line of troops asking each of them about their experiences on the front line.
A royal aide said The Duchess was very pleased to be undertaking the role for a regiment "so close to her husband's heart".
Private Nadine Gwendu, 25, from Newhaven, Brighton - who is originally from Zimbabwe - said meeting The Duchess was "like a dream come true".
"Now I have seen her, and she has shaken my hand - it is something different.
"She asked me what it was like living with so many men in Afghanistan and I told her that it was all right because I was like a priority to them. From the time I joined everyone has been great, from the Guardsmen to the highest rank.
"Also it was so important for William, the Colonel, to present our medals and we all really appreciate that."
It is the first time that the couple have visited the regiment since The Duke became its Colonel.
He is the Irish Guards' first Royal Colonel and its Colonel-in-Chief is the Queen.
The regiment was formed on April 1, 1900 by order of Queen Victoria in response to the courageous actions of Irish regiments in the Second Boer War.
The unit is heavily involved in ceremonial duties but its servicemen are also fighting soldiers.