Kate Middleton And Her Royal Baby Bump Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The Duchess of Cambridge spread some Irish cheer, chatted about baby stuff, and got stuck in a grate.

1. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Irish Guards barracks in Aldershot, England, on St. Patrick’s Day for the annual shamrock distribution ceremony.

Image by Toby Melville - WPA Pool / Getty Images

2. Kate wore the same Emilia Wickstead coat that she wore to the ceremony last St. Patrick’s Day, although the garment had been altered to fit her growing baby bump.

Left: March 17, 2012. Right: March 17, 2013.

Image by Left: STEVE PARSONS/PA Photos/Landov. Right: BEN PRUCHNIE/Getty.

3. The duchess is approximately five-and-a-half months pregnant. The palace has announced that the royal baby is due in July.

Image by Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images

4. Before distributing the shamrocks to the guardsmen, Kate presented a sprig to her husband Prince William, who is an honorary colonel of the guards.

Image by Matt Dunham / AP

Image by Toby Melville - WPA Pool / Getty Images

6. Every year, fresh shamrocks are given to the guards by a senior female member of the royal family as part of a century-old tradition begun by Queen Alexandra, the wife of the then King, Edward VII back in 1901.

Image by KIERAN DOHERTY / Reuters

7. The regiment’s mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Domhnall, received a sprig of shamrocks along with his human brothers-in-arms.

Via: http://Ben%20Pruchnie/Getty%20Images

Image by Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images

Image by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

Source: middletonroyalty.tumblr.com

Image by Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images

Source: middletonroyalty.tumblr.com

13. Kate apparently chatted with guardsmen about the royal baby:

Victoria Murphy @QueenVicMirror

So according to one guardsman today Kate told him she wants a boy and William wants a girl

1:16 PM - 17 Mar 13

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Victoria Murphy @QueenVicMirror

Kate also said she has no definite names for the baby yet

1:18 PM - 17 Mar 13

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Victoria Murphy @QueenVicMirror

And she told one soldier she is prepared for sleepless nights

1:19 PM - 17 Mar 13

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Victoria Murphy @QueenVicMirror

Was surprised about Kate's boy/girl comments but I checked with the soldier several times as did reporter with me

1:30 PM - 17 Mar 13

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17. The Duchess suffered one small misstep during the ceremony: She accidentally caught the heel of her shoe in a grate as she finished distributing the shamrocks.

Image by ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Images

Image by ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Images

19. Prince William held Kate’s arm as she laughed and wrenched her shoe loose.

Image by Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images

20. After the duchess freed her shoe, the royal couple posed for a photo with the Irish Guards.

Image by Toby Melville - WPA Pool / Getty Images

21. The ceremony ended with the annual St. Patrick’s Day military parade.

Image by WPA Pool / Getty Images

Image by Ben Pruchnie / Getty Images

23. What a difference a year makes!

Left: March 17, 2012. Right: March 17, 2013.

Image by Left: TOBY MELVILLE/Reuters. Right: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

24. BONUS: Royal Baby Bump GIF!

Image by Video: AP. GIF: Ryan Broderick/BuzzFeed.