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Eleven Irish Guardsmen stood proudly outside one of Britain’s most recognisable doors, representing the country before international cameras. But within hours, their appearance became the subject of a fierce online controversy after a former SAS commander labelled them “unarmed Teletubbies.” The insult quickly spread, prompting their commanding officer to defend the regiment publicly. But who was the man behind the criticism, why did his comments provoke such a strong response, and what makes this controversy particularly significant for Princess Catherine?
Welcome back to British Royal Family, where we uncover the stories behind the headlines and explore the royal connections that matter most.
On Wednesday, October 14, Downing Street in London became the setting for an international diplomatic occasion as Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed Ukraine’s president to Number 10. Outside the famous black door, eleven Irish Guardsmen stood in formation, performing their ceremonial duties as photographers captured the moment.
The regiment has distinctive features that make its soldiers instantly recognisable. Their bearskin caps display blue plumes on the right, while their tunic buttons are arranged in groups of four. However, once photographs of the ceremony appeared online, the attention shifted from diplomacy to criticism.
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Richard Williams, a retired lieutenant colonel who previously commanded the renowned 22 SAS regiment, delivered a particularly harsh assessment. He described the guardsmen as “unarmed Teletubbies” wearing poorly fitted uniforms that resembled playground clothing. In another post, he referred to them as pretend soldiers serving mainly as decorations.
Some media outlets interpreted his remarks as an attack on the soldiers’ physical appearance, with headlines suggesting the comments amounted to body-shaming. Others viewed the criticism as an attack on the ceremonial role itself.
The regiment’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Irwin-Clark, did not remain silent. Responding directly to the negative comments, he told critics that they needed to give their heads a wobble. His response was unmistakable: those mocking the regiment should reconsider their words.
According to reports published by The Sun, the controversy also angered General Sir Roly Walker, the head of the British Army. Walker has a personal connection to the Irish Guards, having joined the regiment in 1993 before moving into special forces four years later. He subsequently commanded the First Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and became Chief of the General Staff in June 2024.
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Consequently, the dispute has developed into something more complicated than an online argument. It has brought criticism from one former special forces commander into conflict with the leadership of an army whose senior figures understand the regiment’s traditions and responsibilities.
But there is another reason this controversy has attracted attention. The Irish Guards are closely connected to Princess Catherine.
In December 2022, Catherine became the regiment’s colonel, succeeding Prince William after his eleven-year association with the position. William transferred to the Welsh Guards, while Catherine assumed the honorary responsibility of supporting the Irish Guards, their personnel and their families.
Although the position does not involve commanding troops in battle, it carries considerable symbolic importance. The colonel visits the regiment, participates in ceremonial occasions and demonstrates the royal family’s support for its soldiers.
Catherine has repeatedly shown that she takes this responsibility seriously. In March 2023, she travelled to Salisbury Plain for her first visit to the First Battalion as colonel. Wearing camouflage clothing, she observed military training in challenging winter conditions.
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During a simulated casualty exercise, a soldier was injured in the leg. Catherine knelt in the snow beside Lance Corporal Jodie Newell and personally applied a tourniquet before helping check for further injuries after he was placed on a stretcher.
She also received a briefing on the regiment’s demining training for Ukrainian soldiers. The visit coincided with International Women’s Day, and the commanding officer praised the female soldiers while highlighting Catherine’s inspiring presence.
Nine days later, she attended the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade, taking the salute for the first time as their colonel.
Then came 2024, a profoundly difficult year for the princess. Following abdominal surgery in January, Catherine announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Her treatment prevented her from attending the regiment’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
The Daily Mail subsequently reported that she quietly paid the regimental bar bill, reportedly around £2,000, despite being unable to attend personally. The soldiers responded by raising three cheers in her honour.
In June, Catherine also missed the Colonel’s Review, the final rehearsal before the King’s Birthday Parade. She sent the regiment a message apologising for her absence and reaffirming that serving as their colonel remained a tremendous honour.
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A week later, she shared a personal update about her chemotherapy, acknowledging that recovery brought both good and difficult days. The following morning, she appeared publicly for the first time since revealing her diagnosis, travelling along the Mall with her three children. Pinned to her white Jenny Packham dress was the Irish Guards’ badge, a powerful reminder of her connection to the regiment.
Her relationship with the guardsmen stretches back to 2012, when she undertook her first solo military engagement with them. Wearing a dark green Emilia Wickstead coat, she presented shamrocks to forty soldiers at Mons Barracks in Aldershot. She also wore the regiment’s gold shamrock brooch, previously associated with the Queen Mother and Princess Anne.
The tradition itself dates back to the regiment’s formation by Queen Victoria on April 1, 1900, to honour Irish soldiers serving during the Boer War. The monarch lifted restrictions on wearing Ireland’s green emblem, and Queen Alexandra distributed shamrocks the following year. Since then, a royal woman has continued the tradition.
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