Not top of the morning today! St Patrick’s Day revellers wake up with sore heads after hitting the town in leprechaun hats and shamrocks for pints of Guinness in pubs across Britain

St Patrick’s Day revellers will likely be waking up with sore heads today after millions of Britons downed pints of Guinness and donned leprechaun hats and shamrocks while celebrating the Irish holiday.

The streets of London, Leeds and Newcastle were among those heaving with huge crowds all day yesterday and into the night, with many partygoers cloaked in flags and dressed in green.

Huge parades of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and sculptures marched through cities and towns across the country to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland – with London’s parade was the biggest in the UK with an estimated 50,000 participants.

There were huge queues outside the biggest Irish bars with a sea of green waiting to get inside Waxy O’Connor’s in London, which is well praised for its live music in the six-floor Soho venue.

And there will be a few sore heads this morning after million pints of Guinness were consumed. 

LEEDS: A group of students decked out in green pose for a picture as they enjoy the festivities 

LEEDS: Four students jump for joy in shamrock-themed green outfits

LEEDS: A group of revellers in green jerseys and t-shirts strike a pose

LEEDS: Revellers in leprechaun hats gather outside a pub

LEEDS: An excited woman poses for a picture as revellers in shamrock-themed outfits enjoy the festivities

There were also countless gigs, shows and events held up and down the country to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. 

In Leeds, students decked out in green took to the streets to celebrate the day in jovial fashion. 

And in Newcastle, there were similar scenes as revellers got involved in the festivities. 

Meanwhile, the Irish Guards paid a touching tribute to their absent colonel, the Princess of Wales, during their annual St Patrick’s Day Parade yesterday afternoon.

Kate, 42, was replaced in yesterday’s traditional parade in Aldershot by Lady Ghika, the wife of Lieutenant colonel Major General Sir Christopher Ghika. 

LONDON: Thousands gather at Trafalgar Square to enjoy live traditional Irish music at the end point of the parade

LONDON: A child in a leprechaun-themed outfit takes part in the parade at Trafalgar Square

LONDON: Partygoers watch the parade in central London

LONDON: A woman cloaked in an Irish flag smiles as the parade goes by

ALDERSHOT: The Irish Guard’s parade went ahead as normal as the members of the regiment took part in the festivities

ALDERSHOT: Lady Ghika, the wife of Major General Sir Christopher Ghika, stood in for the Princess of Wales at this year’s Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day parade

NEWCASTLE: A group of four friends dressed as leprechauns soak up the atmosphere 

NEWCASTLE: Partygoers gather outside a pub as the celebrations got underway

NEWSCASTLE: Students donned green cowboy hats as they celebrated the patron saint of Ireland

NEWCASTLE: A crowd of partygoers in leprechaun hats and green fancy dress strike a pose

NEWCASTLE: Revellers dressed in green yesterday afternoon as they soaked up the atmosphere

NEWCASTLE: Green and black leprechaun hats were a common sight yesterday

Dressed in a plum coat dress, Lady Ghika presented the Irish Guards’ mascot, Seamus the dog, with a shamrock, as is tradition at the parade. 

At the end of the parade, the troops raised their hats and gave three cheers in honour of the absent Princess.

It was a long weekend for some as many revellers got the party started early on Saturday night.