Duchess gets abused for breaking St Patrick's Day tradition

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton has received series of online backlash for failing to fulfil a 115-year old tradition of presenting St Patrick's Day shamrocks to Irish guards in order to spend time with her children.

Social media users took to Twitter and Facebook to slam the decision, with one saying sarcastically, “Well she has done it for the last four years - she probably needs a rest!”

Another user said,“I feel disappointed - if the Royals start breaking with good traditions then I'm not sure what they're there for.”

A source told the Daily Mail,“It appears that Kate, in London for Commonwealth Day, was keen to get back to Norfolk and her children.”

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“So William will dole out the shamrocks. Naturally Irish Guards officers are deflated.”

Handing the clover to the Hounslow-based Infantry Battalion has been carried out on St Patrick's Day by female members of the royal family since 1901, when Queen Alexandra began the tradition.

Kate, who is now 34, took over the role from Princess Anne in 2012 and last year performed the ceremony while eight months pregnant with Princess Charlotte.