Kate Middleton has always been a fashion icon, from famously wooing Prince William in her daring see-through dress on the university catwalk, to wowing everyone with her stunning Alexander McQueen wedding dress. When it comes to shoes, the Princess of Wales doesn’t disappoint either.
It’s hard to catch her in a public engagement without a pair of killer heels even though she can be on her feet for hours. That’s why the princess has several secrets that help her feet not hurt while standing for hours.
Royal etiquette expert Myka Meier said Kate is a fan of two products. She reportedly wears John Lewis non-slip leggings to keep her feet from slipping out of their heels.
The £6 sheer socks have gel strips on the bottom to help your feet grip the shoe. The description reads: “Achieve a flattering, smooth silhouette and a natural bare-leg look with our seven-denier leggings.
“These tights are designed with a non-slip texture on the sole for a better fit and wear regardless of shoe choice. Complete with a flat seam, hygienic cotton insert and an open toe style perfect for those warm days when you need discreet yet seasonal coverage.”
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Royal fans noticed a photo of the princess wearing leggings with similar gel pads on the royal tour of Canada in July 2011.
The photo shows clear gel-like strips sticking out of the side of Tabitha Simmons’ pointed-toe Princess heels.
Ms Meier said Kate also wore Alice Bow insoles created by British designer Rachel Bowditch.
The retractable leather insoles, which retail for £18.95, are designed to “soften” your feet so you can wear heels pain-free for hours.
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In 2015, a source told Vanity Fair that Kate “ordered several packages” of Alice Bow pads. “She thinks they’re great,” the source said.
At the time, a spokesperson for Alice Bow told Vanity Fair that the company could not comment on “stories about the Duchess wearing [its] pads.”
“However, we have seen a large increase in visits,” the spokesman added.
Although there are no official footwear guidelines, the late Queen set a convention for socks in public, according to royal expert Victoria Arbiter.
“You never see a member of the royal family without their socks on,” Ms Arbiter said earlier. “I’d say that’s really the only firm, unwavering rule in terms of what the Queen requires.”
Royal women normally wear leggings on royal duty, but they can be a little more flexible with their shoes by choosing the right one for the engagement.
Fans may have seen Kate in sneakers and flats for more casual events, or open-toed heels and straps for evening wear.
One type of shoe the late Queen reportedly couldn’t stand were wedges. “The Queen is not a fan of wedged shoes. She really doesn’t like them and that’s well known among the women in the family,” a source told Vanity Fair in 2015.
Daena Borrowman, head of marketing at jewellerybox, previously told Express.co.uk: “There are dozens of protocols that royal stylists and fashion designers must be familiar with to prevent busy royals from making embarrassing fashion blunders.
“It is customary for senior royals to dress modestly during public appearances, to preserve the sanctity of the royal family. Royal women are expected to wear leggings whenever their legs are exposed in public.
“The Princess of Wales, who prefers bare leggings and has worn them with many iconic outfits, has often caused sales of bare leggings. Coins or small weights are sewn into the hems of dresses to prevent them from being blown away by a strong gust of British wind.
“Royal women are also discouraged from showing cleavage. In order to continue wearing tailored dresses with daring necklines, the princess altered her evening gowns slightly to comply with the rules, while her later mother-in-law, Princess Diana kept her clutch on her chest as she exited the vehicle.”