When the Princess of Wales visited the Salisbury Plain Training Area this morning to take part in a battlefield exercise on her first official duty as the new colonel of the Irish Guards, she was mastering her combat chic look.
Kate, 41, looked elegant yet practical as she appeared in an all-khaki outfit and sensible walking boots, with her hair pulled back in a French braid.
The mother of three needed a sensible outfit when she got caught up in the drill, which included tending to a ‘wounded’ soldier and inspecting some of the machinery.
And if the exercise wasn’t challenging enough, the elements were against her as she completed the exercise in freezing temperatures as snow fell to the ground.
Fortunately, the Princess of Wales was prepared in her outfit, which consisted of exclusive brands and recycled items.
Dressed but with a touch of glamour, the Princess of Wales, 41, arrived at the Salisbury Plain Training Area to practice as the new colonel of the Irish Guards
Underneath her camo jacket, Kate was sensibly wrapped in a £149 turtleneck with a cable knit detail and Holland Cooper buttoned sleeves.
Her khaki trousers were a now-sold-out £150 G-Star Raw favourite, and her trusty hiking boots were a pair she had worn several times before from outdoor brand Berghaus and cost around £175.
While her hair was neatly braided back from her face, the princess also wore a wool cap for protection from the cold and opted for thick gloves as well.
During her visit, Kate enthusiastically asked questions about the different first aid methods that military medics used when tending to the fake wound during the casualty simulation. She then applied a second tourniquet and Celox gauze—also used to stop the bleeding—on the soldier with the fake leg injury and gunshot wound to the chest.
Kate wore a camo jacket and paired it with high street khaki pants. She also wore a sensible turtleneck to protect herself from freezing temperatures and had her hair braided out of her face
Lance Corporal Jodie Newell, 25, who was in charge of teaching the Princess first aid, said: ‘I was so nervous – I teach the Princess of Wales med [medicine] – it was an honor.
“We were just showing her what we medics do in the military. She was actually very good, very excited to participate.’ L/Cpl Newell added that Kate “took it all on like she did before” and that it was “great” to have her visit the training area, especially on International Women’s Day.
Afterwards, the princess said participation in military first aid exercises “brought to life” the reality of their training.
She said the battlefield casualty exercises, complete with mock gunfire and explosions, “brought it all to life.”
The Princess also learned about clearing anti-vehicle and anti-personnel mines and looked at the weapons systems used by the Irish Guards. As part of the visit, she met guards from No 1 and No 2 companies, who told her about their recent experience training park rangers in East Africa in anti-poaching methods.
The royal family, wearing a green combat uniform with the rank of colonel, was also briefed on counter-explosive munitions – the demining training provided by the Irish Guards to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Finally, she looked at different types of weapons used by the Irish Guards.
Lieutenant Colonel Aldridge said his battalion was delighted to welcome Kate to Salisbury Plain for her first visit as a Royal Colonel.
He said: “It is particularly fitting on International Women’s Day that some of our female soldiers have met such an inspiring female role model.
“It is a real honor for all the Guards to meet their Royal Colonel in the field here on Salisbury Plain and demonstrate some of our basic operational skills.”
Buckingham Palace announced Kate’s new role in December ahead of this year’s Trooping the Color, which has celebrated the British Sovereign’s official birthday for more than 250 years.
The King’s Birthday Parade – Charles’ first – takes place on the slightly later date, 17 June. The King’s actual birthday is November 14.
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