Over 50,000 Attend London's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Thousands of people clad in green filled the streets of central London on Sunday for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, a vibrant celebration of Irish culture that drew an estimated crowd of more than 50,000. The event, organized by the Mayor of London's office as a family-friendly festival, featured a procession from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, complete with marching bands, dancers, musicians and a towering model of Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick.

The parade kicked off at noon, winding through Piccadilly, Regent Street and other landmarks before culminating in Trafalgar Square, where a free festival showcased Irish music, arts and cuisine until evening. Participants donned shamrock-themed accessories, from sunglasses and T-shirts to leprechaun hats and baby outfits, turning the city center into a sea of emerald. Road closures along the route, including Pall Mall East, facilitated the event and were lifted by late afternoon.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris, known as the Tanaiste, joined the festivities and addressed the crowd from the main stage in Trafalgar Square. He described London as one of the most Irish cities in the world, highlighting the deep ties...