She is one of the most stylish royals in the world, but it would seem even Kate Middleton turns to the women in her life for fashion inspiration. For her debut engagement on King Charles’s coronation weekend—a lunch for world leaders at Buckingham Palace—the Princess of Wales stepped out in a pair of shoes favored by her equally elegant sister-in-law, Meghan Markle.
Kate, 41, cut a chic figure in towering black suede Aquazzura slingback pumps—the signature Bow Tie 105 style, to be precise. Crafted at the label’s Italian atelier, the heels are shaped in a classic feminine pointed style that is cut out at the sides of the heel. The finishing touch is the sweet bow at the back. The stilettos proved the perfect accessory for her sleek monochrome outfit, which consisted of a custom black-and-white Jenny Packham dress and a simple black clutch.
She is far from the first royal woman to showcase the Aquazzura design, however. The Duchess of Sussex first wore the shoes for a royal engagement in June 2018, just a month after her wedding, and they quickly became a staple of her royal wardrobe. A particularly spectacular moment came in October that year when she paired the signature stilettos with an unforgettable Oscar de la Renta gown for a reception on the royal tour of Australia.
Aquazzura is a brand loved by royals across Europe. Princess Beatrice wore the Forever 105 black suede pumps on Easter Sunday, while Queen Máxima of the Netherlands (among the foreign royals attending King Charles’s coronation) recently donned the designer while hosting President and Mrs. Macron. The Princess of Wales has several styles in her wardrobe, including the pointed pair she dazzled in on the BAFTA red carpet.
