Prince William and his wife Kate have met Australian soldiers as the royal couple visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for their St David’s Day parade.

Kate attended the procession with her husband the Prince of Wales for the first time since he took over from the King as the regiment’s colonel.

They sat for an official photo with the Prince of Wales’ company before they met families from the regiment as well as members of the 5th Royal Australian regiment who are in the UK helping to train the Ukrainian army.

The couple then took part in the annual tradition of presenting handmade leeks to officers and soldiers to wear on their chests.

Officers and soldiers then distributed them among the ranks.

“William presented me with a leek and just asked me how the trip is going for me,” Major Gregory Sergeant, from the 5th Royal Australian regiment, said.

“It was humbling, I have never met a royal before. Our unit’s birthday is on St David’s Day so naturally we reached out to the Welsh Guards and they invited us to the parade today. It was a true honour.”