7 Of Kate Middleton’s Favourite Shoe Brands
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Meet the labels helping the Princess of Wales put her best foot forward
While the Princess of Wales works hard, her wardrobe often works even harder. Known for setting off trend after trend in the fashion industry, courtesy of the ‘Kate Effect’, she has spent several years crafting her personal style and making her one of the most recognisable members of the royal family. Every detail is meticulously considered – from the clothes on her back to the bag on her arm to the shoes on her feet. And speaking of the latter, she has something of a go-to list of labels to choose from. These are some of Kate Middleton’s favourite shoe brands of all time.
Kate Middleton’s Approach To Shoe Shopping
As we’ve come to learn from the queen of sartorial diplomacy, no detail in an outfit is ever without thought. The same can be said for her shoes, which are often added to support the messaging behind an outfit.
‘Most of the time, Kate treats her shoes as a supporting player rather than the hero of an outfit,’ confirms Carly Whitewood, founder of the Kate Middleton Style blog. She adds that the royal has a specific style of shoe she relies on most: the court shoe. ‘Her default has long been the classic pointed-toe court shoe with a slim heel. In the early years after she married into the royal family, she frequently relied on beige during spring and summer, and black suede during the colder months – and usually platform styles.
‘Her approach evolved over time, and we began seeing much sleeker silhouettes along with literal colour-matching and tonal dressing: navy heels with a blue coat, burgundy shoes with burgundy clothing, and so on.’
Kate Middleton wearing Gianvito Rossi pumps at Royal Ascot 2026
The Princess of Wales has also steadily broadened her footwear collection – albeit within the parameters of royal dress codes. Carly notes that, more recently, ‘we’re seeing her choose smart flats, as well as boots and trainers for more casual engagements. And in summer, she’ll mic in slingbacks, to give her outfit a lighter, more feminine finish.’
And her top pair of 2026? ‘I’ve noticed another shift in the Princess of Wales’ footwear in the last year: she’s repeatedly wearing one particular pair of Ralph Lauren Celia pumps in a rich, golden-caramel brown with all sorts of different colours,’ says Carly. ‘Rather than matching the shoe to the outfit, she’s treating this warm brown almost as a universal neutral. They’ve become one of the hardest-working pairs in her wardrobe recently.’
The Case For Rewearing
But it’s not all newness. The Princess of Wales is known just as much for rewearing (and reviving) pieces in her wardrobe years after she was first spotted wearing them. ‘Kate rewears her shoes extensively, sometimes for many years,’ emphasises Carly. ‘One of the best examples is a pair of Penelope Chilvers Long Tassel boots that she’s owned for more than 20 years. She was photographed wearing them as far back as 2004 and we last spotted her wearing them in 2025.’
This strategy all comes down to the royal’s ‘formulaic’ approach to dressing, she continues. ‘Something that strikes me after following her wardrobe for so long is how surprisingly formulaic Kate can be with footwear, and I mean that in a good way. When someone buys the same shoe in 11 colours, or essentially the same boot in four hues, it’s reasonable to assume she’s worked out exactly what suits her and what she can rely on. It’s very much a case of: if the shoe fits, buy it in every colour.’
Kate Middleton wearing Aquazzura heels to the US State Banquet in 2025 (The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Standout Moments
While the royal’s daily wardrobe is a tried and tested rotation of court shoes, she has been known to opt for something a little more extravagant when the occasion calls for it.
‘She does occasionally choose something spectacular,’ agrees Carly. ‘My standout pair isn’t necessarily her most-worn, but they left a bold impression – her Gianvito Rossi Rania pumps. They’re exquisite: sheer silk-organza court shoes covered with 4,500 crystals, with an RRP of £2,265. She’s worn them only a handful of times for very formal evening occasions, but they certainly bring the wow factor.’
Kate Middleton’s Favourite Shoe Brands
So, we know her favourite shoe styles – but what about her favourite shoe brands? While the royal dabbles between labels from all over the world, there’s one in particular that seems to have her heart: the aforementioned Gianvito Rossi. ‘It’s the standout brand,’ says Carly. ‘She has built up a substantial collection from the Italian designer and owns versions of his signature pump in numerous colours. I’ve counted the same basic style in 11 different shades in her wardrobe.’
Closer to home, Princess of Wales has also shown favoritism to British brands Emmy London, Jimmy Choo and L.K. Bennett.
‘I suspect there’s a very practical reason she returns to the same designers and silhouettes,’ muses Carly. ‘If you know a particular heel height and shape fit you properly and work with your wardrobe, buying it again in another colour removes a lot of the guesswork.’
The Princess of Wales visits RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 (Oliver Dixon/RHS)
Below, we run through some of Kate Middleton’s most-worn and favourite shoe brands to date:
Gianvito Rossi
Arguably Kate Middleton’s go-to shoe brand, Italian label Gianvito Rossi has accompanied her on hundreds of royal events. Her favourite, according to Carly, is the Gianvito pump; she’s been spotted wearing the shoe in both its 105 and 85 versions, as well as in various colours and textures (with a neutral suede being her most-worn style).
Emmy London
It’s safe to say that Kate Middleton is a big fan of Emmy London. According to Carly, in her years as a working royal, the Princess of Wales has been spotted wearing three pairs of the brand’s Josie heels, one pair of Lulu flats and two pairs of the now-discontinued Valerie heels. Oh, and 15 clutch bags too.
Jimmy Choo
Like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, the new Princess of Wales is rather fond of Jimmy Choo. The London-based label, known for its elegant pumps and handbags, has been in the royal’s wardrobe rotation since before she and William went down the aisle. She’s worn sandals, heels and pumps by the brand over the years, to everything from Wimbledon to the BAFTAs.
L.K. Bennett
Over the years, it’s reported that Kate Middleton has worn more than 85 pieces from British label L.K. Bennett. The brand, known for its elevated, feminine styles, fits right in with Princess of Wales’ signature style. The royal’s go-to options here are, as usual, pumps and court shoes in neutral hues – but we particularly love the pink bow-adorned Agata Sandals she’s worn to various galas and award shows.
The Princess and Prince of Wales at the Royal Charity Polo in 2026
Prada
Another Italian brand that has the Princess’ heart. Kate Middleton is known for wearing Prada quite often, usually through accessories and, of course, shoes. Prada is a universally known name in fashion, and its shoes are often praised for their level of craftsmanship and sophistication. To date, the royal has been spotted in an impressive collection of sandals and pumps.
Aquazzura
And for more special occasions, the Princess of Wales has been known to dip her toe into Aquazzura. The Italian label, known for its high-glam, grandiose shoe designs – complete with metallic leather, rhinestones and luxury finishes – was spotted most recently on Kate Middleton’s feet at the 2025 US State Banquet (and before that, she wore the same pair for a Bond girl moment at the premiere of No Time To Die in 2021).
Penelope Chilvers
This British label is often worn by the royal during country outings. As mentioned, the Princess of Wales has owned the same pair of shoes from Penelope Chilvers for more than two decades: a classic tassel boot perfect for trundling around outdoors.
Ralph Lauren
The Princess of Wales’ latest fashion obsession is American label Ralph Lauren. The royal notably wore many pieces from the brand last summer – including a tweed blazer during her first outing with light bronde hair – but when it came to footwear, one pair stood out: Ralph Lauren’s Celia pumps. Like her Gianvito Rossi pumps, she tends to wear these in more neutral tones.
