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Proof the Royals Do Carry Cash! Kate Middleton Kindly Picks Up Bar Tab for the Irish Guard

It's an annual tradition

kate middleton cash bar tab guiness
Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images

From striking portraits to hairstyle changes, Kate Middleton’s latest appearance was one for the books. Since there was so much going on, I nearly missed this sweet moment between Princess Catherine and the Irish Guards.

kate middleton cash bar tab guiness
Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Yesterday, the Princess of Wales, 43, stepped out in London for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade of the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks. During the ceremony, the royal presented medals to soldiers and distributed shamrocks to officers. 

After the service, Princess Catherine headed inside and drank a half-pint of Guinness with the guards. At one point, she secretly handed money to the bartender, per People. This didn’t come as a huge surprise, especially since she also picked up the tab during last year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, I was surprised by her payment method: cash.

kate middleton cash bar tab guiness
Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images

I didn’t realize that members of the royal family carried cash in their purse, especially since Princess Catherine prefers mini handbags that barely fit a full-size smart phone. Now that I think of it, I wonder if she even needs to carry a wallet, since she’s constantly surrounded by her team and rarely makes transactions in public. 

Plus, Prince Harry previously revealed that carrying cash is a royal no-no when he appeared on a segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden. When the host asked him to pay a bus fare, Prince Harry responded, “You know us royals, we don’t carry cash.”

If I had to guess, I think the Princess of Wales knew she was going to pay for the bar tab and purposely brought cash to ensure the transaction was smooth (and secretive). Regardless, she needs to do a “what’s in your bag” video to solve this mystery once and for all. 

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greta

Senior Editor, News and Entertainment

  • Writes and edits news and entertainment content
  • Specializes in breaking celebrity news, royal family coverage and TV show and movie recommendations
  • Has 9 years experience in entertainment coverage

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