Shamrock Duke continues St Patrick's Day tradition

The Duke of York continued a century-old tradition today when he was presented with a sprig of shamrock during a special St Patrick's Day visit to Northern Ireland.

As the prospect of war with Iraq loomed closer, the Duke boosted morale during an inspection of Royal Irish Regiment soldiers on parade at their base in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

The Duke, Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, arrived by helicopter at St Patrick's Barracks amid bright sunshine. He received the shamrock from the commanding officer's wife, Charlotte Spender.

The custom dates back to March 1900 when Queen Victoria ordered all ranks of her Irish regiments to wear a sprig in their head dress to mark their gallantry in the Boer War.

The Duke pressed ahead with his visit after his former father-in-law, Major Ronald Ferguson, 71, died last night after a heart attack.

A spokesman for the Duke said he had been "saddened to learn of the death".

Later, the Duke went to Hillsborough Castle where he met representatives of five local companies who received the Queen's Award for trading excellence last year.