British Prince William May Sport Scarlet Irish Guard Uniform for Royal Wedding

Prince William of Wales, Kate Middleton's intended, has just been tapped as Regimental Colonel of the Irish Guards. Buckingham Palace made the official announcement on February 10, saying "The Queen has been pleased to give her formal approval to the appointment of Prince William as Colonel of the Irish Guards."

The British Queen, Prince William's own grandmother, is Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Army.

This is Prince William's first honorary appointment in the British Army, and his naming to the position makes him the first Royal Colonel in the history of the Irish Guards, formed by an order by Queen Victoria in 1900.

Colonel Christopher Ghika, the Irish Guards' Commanding Officer, praised the Prince's appointment. "We are deeply honoured Prince William has agreed to be our Regimental Colonel, especially as the news comes whilst we are in the middle of our operational tour in Afghanistan," Colonel Ghika said.

In this new regal role, 28-year-old Prince William will assume responsibilities previously held by Major General Sir Sebastian Roberts, KCVO OBE. Of course, the Colonel of the Irish Guards traditionally wears a scarlet jacket and black piped trousers for ceremonial occasions.

And what could be more ceremonial than a British royal wedding at London's Westminster Abbey?

Prince William currently serves as a member of the British Royal Air Force, having graduated from the Defence Helicopter Flying School at Royal Air Force Shawbury in January 2010. As Air Chief Marshal, his father, Prince Charles, pinned official wings upon Prince William in an official ceremony.

Royal watchers are asking whether RAF search-and-rescue pilot Prince William will wear his traditional blue Royal Air Force uniform or the red and black ceremonial attire of the Irish Guard for his upcoming nuptials, scheduled for April 29, 2011. As yet, Buckingham Palace has not specified, only indicating that the bridegroom would wear military attire for the high-profile occasion.

The Irish Guards, based at Windsor's Victoria Barracks and now deployed to Afghanistan, also include the Palace Guards and red-clad The Band of the Irish Guards, who habitually participate in British ceremonial occasions, such as the recent Queen's Birthday Parade and the State Opening of Parliament.

The royal wedding surely qualifies as high ceremony in the United Kingdom, so these musical marchers are likely to take part in the much-anticipated wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton. And perhaps the Band of the Irish Guards participants' bright red uniforms will match the attire of the royal bridegroom.