If I had to pick the Princess of Wales’s go-to style of summer shoes it would definitely be wedges and there are certain brands and designs she always comes back to. She reaches for wedges whenever she wants something a little smarter than trainers and they work so well with her best summer dresses, as well as jeans and blouses.
Each of her pairs have slightly different shapes and straps and as a champion of the best British clothing brands, it’s not surprising that some of her staple wedges are from L K Bennett and Russell & Bromley, but one of her most-seen pairs are from Spanish brand, Castañer.
"Wedges are a timeless choice, particularly in the summer months, thanks to their ability to add inches without as much unbalance as a classic heel," says woman&home Digital Fashion Editor Rivkie Baum. "If you're set to be on your feet for a long period, or are having to manage varied terrain such as grass or gravel the last thing you want is to have uncomfortable feet, or a fear of tripping."
With the hot weather still in full force in the UK, we’re eyeing up the Princess of Wales’s go-to wedges and lookalikes that bring a similarly elegant feel to any summer outfit.
Kate's Castañer Wedges
In the world of wedges it doesn’t come much more iconic - or chic - than Castañer’s designs and the Princess of Wales has worn her Carina 80 Suede Wedge Espadrilles to so many different events and engagements. Although the future Queen is a fan of bright colours, when it comes to her footwear she often goes much more classic and neutral and her Carina wedges are a toasted toffee brown tone.
Black espadrilles are just as versatile as other neutral shades and are practical if you're worried about potential marks on the suede. You can currently get the Carina 80 style with a big discount at Harvey Nichols and they have the same beautiful design as Kate's brown wedges.
The Princess of Wales is a huge fan of the Carina 80 espadrilles and she has a gorgeous warm-toned neutral pair like these ones, which have a slightly lower wedge. The tie up detail and classic jute sole make them so chic and timeless.
These stunning wedges have a slightly thicker tie strap that secures them around your ankles and the canvas is a very easy-to-style white shade. We love the almond shaped toe and would wear these with everything from midi dresses to jeans and a T-shirt.
This makes them incredibly easy to style with other shades and so increases their versatility - something we’d always recommend bearing in mind when you want to get maximum wear out of an investment piece. The Carina wedges have delicate ties that secure them around your ankles, an almond-shaped toe and the classic jute espadrille wedge.
Kate first debuted these shoes when she gave Prince George, Charlotte and Louis a special tour of her Back To Nature Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. She went on to wear them several more times that summer and each time styled the Castañer wedges with flowing floral midi dresses.
The feminine tie-details and streamlined design of these wedges makes them perfect for wearing with dresses, although they’d work just as well with wide-leg blue jeans and a white blouse for a more casual look. The Princess of Wales took these with her when she and Prince William undertook their Caribbean Tour in 2022 and then wore them most recently for a visit to Cambridge in 2022 and at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2023 with her bright pink ME+EM dress.
Kate's Monsoon Wedges
When the Princess of Wales wants a pair of wedges that feel more formal and slightly less summery, she tends to reach for her Monsoon Fleur Wedges. Unfortunately this particular pair is out of stock now all these years later, but it’s a testament to Kate’s ageless style that there are always some similar wedge court shoes available year after year. They strike a lovely balance between a court shoe and espadrilles, with their closed-toe design and jute-covered heel.
Whilst tie-up wedges are very chic, sometimes we want something that's easy to slip on in moments and these tick that box. They're a similar design to Kate's shoe-style wedges, but in black. Pair with a summery Little Black Dress and you've got yourself a beautiful date night outfit.
These wedges are an investment but one well worth making if you want a wedge that is timeless and beautifully crafted. This design is very similar to the Princess of Wales's shoes and is a lovely mid-point between court shoes and espadrilles, making them great for more formal occasions.
If you're looking for a more affordable pair of wedges, then these wedge heels are a brilliant option. They're very pared-back and the taupe colour reminds us of the Princess of Wales's wedges. The slingback strap is elasticated and this detail adds to the summery feel of the design.
Kate owns the Monsoon Fleur Wedges in a soft taupe colour and they’re crafted from luxurious suede and something like these would make such comfortable wedding guest shoes. Court shoes might be a key design in the Princess’s wardrobe for formal royal events, but wedges help give you some extra elevation with a bit more stability than you often get from stilettos.
This pair of wedges is one of the oldest in Kate’s collection and she brings them out a lot for official engagements, like when she visited Canada and the Isles of Scilly that year, as well as when she went to Germany and hosted a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2017. The Princess of Wales also opted for these shoes when she opened a Back To Nature Garden at RHS Wisley in Woking in 2019.
Like her Castañers, she prefers to wear these Monsoon wedges with dresses but in 2016 she styled them with black skinny jeans and a T-shirt for a visit to Land Rover BAR. Like court shoes, they’d also look great with tailored trousers.
Kate's Russell & Bromley Wedges
As much as we love a tie-up detail, sometimes we just want something that’s easy to secure in a matter of moments and Kate has a fabulous pair of Russell & Bromley ankle strap wedges in her collection. They are a warm-toned brown colour and are lower than several of her other pairs of wedges which makes them great for wearing for long periods of time or when you’re going to be outside walking on uneven ground.
Whilst Kate's exact Russell & Bromley wedges sadly aren't available anymore, these crochet wedges have a similar shape with the ankle strap. If you prefer a buckle fastening to a tie-up design then these are a gorgeous option with modern woven detailing and a jute-wrapped wedge.
Also available in several other tones, these tan suede wedges have a practical ankle strap that fastens securely with a buckle like Kate's Russell & Bromley wedges do. The contrast between the warm-toned uppers and woven jute sole is fabulous and they give elevation without being overly high.
The Penelope Chilvers Mary Jane espadrilles are a classic style that the Duchess of Edinburgh owns, and they have a handy ankle strap. They're made from soft leather with natural jute and the metallic gold colour is remarkably wearable. Style with a simple summer dress or an elevated occasionwear look.
The Princess of Wales put the sturdiness of this design to the ultimate test in 2018 when she ran down a grassy hill at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy match in Gloucester. She attended with Prince George and Princess Charlotte and wore her shoes with a pastel blue and white striped Zara midi dress.
It was one of those outfits that’s simple to put together but so stunning. Having wedges with a secure ankle strap was a practical choice for this day at the polo and she later wore them in June 2020 when she went to The Nook, one of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in Norfolk.
Like her Monsoon wedges, these Russell & Bromley Coco-Nut Espadrilles aren’t sold anymore, although the brand does have a sensational crochet pair available right now that also fasten with a strap at the ankle. Because of the strap, we’d recommend wearing wedges like these with either a pair of longer trousers that covers it or with a dress or skirt for a more leg-elongating effect.
Kate's Stuart Weitzman Wedges
Although most of the Princess of Wales’s wedges have traditional woven jute soles, she also owns the Stuart Weitzman Corkswoons which have a cork wedge. This specific style has been discontinued by the brand, though there are plenty of alternatives available right now if you prefer a cork wedge to an espadrille one.
Kate’s Stuart Weitzman wedges have a court shoe shape and a navy blue suede upper. Navy is a softer option compared to black that works well for the summer and the senior royal was first spotted wearing these shoes in 2012 for events for the London Olympics.
Also available in tan, these ecru wedges have a contrasting cork wedge. The uppers are leather and the shoes fasten securely around your ankle with a buckle. Designed with crossover straps and subtle signature branding, they also have open toes to show off your summer pedicure.
Combining the texture of crochet with a cork heel, these wedges are affordable and perfect for adding a subtle pop of colour to your outfits. They have a rounded open toe and a Forever Comfort® cushioned footbed for all-day comfort.
Embrace the metallic trend with these Koali sandals. They're crafted from gold leather and have a plaited strap, buckled ankle strap and a lightweight cork wedge heel. The number of straps helps to keep your feet secure and the heel is a manageable height.
This included when she, Prince William and Prince Harry waited outside Buckingham Palace to receive the Olympic Torch on its route to the Olympic Stadium. The Princess matched her shoes to her patriotic blue and white outfit and she went on to wear the wedges to the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow with a royal blue knee-length dress and navy blazer.
Kate also packed her cork wedges for her and the Prince of Wales’s Tour of Australia and New Zealand that year. Once again, she ensured that her outfit featured hints of blue to link in with her footwear. If you're wearing cork wedges with a specific colour upper, I'd recommend taking a similar approach, but if they're neutral enough you can embrace various hues.
