The ladies of the British royal family never fail to wow us with their outfit choices. From Meghan's perfect maternity wardrobe to Kate's signature color and Beatrice's fearless approach to fashion, we've come to expect a certain level of poise and polish during royal engagements. That goes right down to their feet, where closed-toe high heels are the order of the day for most royal events (because when you're in the company of the queen, strappy sandals just won't do). But even a duchess or a princess can surprise us occasionally, and some of our favorite moments have been when the royals have stepped out in surprising choices: be that Kate's cool sneakers, Meghan's utility boots, or Beatrice's killer heels. Keep reading for 16 royal shoe moments from recent years that show just how varied those royal footwear collections really are. You can even shop some of the key styles for yourself.
Meghan is definitely partial to these beige ankle-strap heels. As well as wearing them for a trip to the National Theatre in London, she also wore them for a very important occasion: her engagement announcement.
The strappy, pointed-toe shoe is the Aquazzura Very Matilde Pump, another style from one of Meghan's go-to footwear brands.
For special occasions like the Royal Variety Performance in 2017, Kate often pulls out her shimmering silver Oscar de la Renta pumps.
The sparkling style is the Platinum Lamé Cabrina Pump.
Kate's no stranger to getting sporty, but she surprised us all when she stepped out in a pair of Nike sneakers to play tennis with some kids at a London school in 2018.
The duchess chose a pair of Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit sneakers with bubble soles. They were a far cry from her usual more subtle styles.
Meghan is a bit of an Aquazzura addict, and she owns the Deneuve pumps in a few colors. For a visit to Canada House on Commonwealth Day in 2019, she wore the classic black version.
The shoes, in black suede, feature a cute bow detail on the back.
Beatrice showed she meant business when she attended the Easter Sunday church service in Windsor in 2016 wearing a pair of black patent shoes with metal stiletto heels.
Beatrice's spike heel is the Britton style by the British shoe label Kurt Geiger.
During the royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, Meghan packed a pair of comfy, classic espadrilles.
Meghan's wedges are made by Spanish espadrille brand Castañer. The duchess chose the Carina 60 canvas wedge espadrilles in black.
While visiting New Zealand in October 2019, Meghan wore a pair of black suede lace-up boots with gold hardware.
Meghan's lace-up boots are the not-so-glamorously named Veruca sock boots by Stuart Weitzman.
Meghan wore a Victoria Beckham ensemble to the Commonwealth Day service in 2019 and contrasted her cream colored coat and chain-print dress with a pair of green satin pumps.
Meghan's shoes featured a classic pointed toe and a stiletto heel.
For a trip to Northern Ireland in 2019, Meghan sported a pair of luxe Jimmy Choo pumps in a bold orange-brown velvet.
Meghan's shoes are the Romy 100 pump, in a special colorway called Oxid that featured in the Cruise '18 collection.
What do you wear to a work meeting when you're almost six months pregnant? A pair of cow print high heels with PVC inserts, of course. Meghan definitely didn't let baby Sussex cramp her style when she wore these shoes for a trip to the charity SmartWorks.
Meghan's unusual printed heels have been in her closet for a few years, as canny fans recognized them from a "shelfie" posted to her now-defunct instagram account.
At the royal premiere of Spectre back in 2015, Kate teamed her Jenny Packham dress with a pair of sandals by Jimmy Choo.
Kate's metallic strappy Vamp sandals have a mock-croc texture, a platform sole, and a stiletto heel.
Another day, another gorgeous pair of Aquazzura pumps for the Duchess of Sussex! Meghan teamed a ruffled Jason Wu dress with a pair of blue slingbacks for a concert in London.
Meghan's heels are the Aquazzura Portrait of a Lady style, which is sold out in blue but still available in other colors.
On the royal tour to Australia, Meghan stepped out in the sunshine wearing a pair of flat ankle-tie leather sandals by Sarah Flint.
Meghan has had these sandals for years and wore them on a number of occasions before the royal tour.
Beatrice is never afraid to experiment with her footwear, and in 2016, she sported a pair of calf-length boots with silver buttons.
Beatrice's boots featured silver buttons and fasteners all up the leg, with a chunky block heel.
Also in 2016, Beatrice topped a lace Milly dress with a pair of lace-up mesh panel stilettos.
Though they weren't identified at the time, it's possible Beatrice's statement shoes are from everyone's favorite fast fashion retailer Zara.
Kate took a page out of her sister-in-law's book when she opted to wear a pair of lace-up ankle boots for a number of royal engagements in early 2019. The duchess usually chooses suede pumps or knee-high boots when wearing dresses, but these cute ankle boots gave the look a more modern feel.
Kate's boots are the Marisa style from one of the duchess's favorite labels, LK Bennett. Unsurprisingly, the style has sold out since it got the royal seal of approval.
Princess Eugenie has got a ton of wear out of her black booties, which feature high sides and a deep split on the vamp.
The modern style is worlds away from the classic pumps worn by most of the royal family, which just makes us love them even more.