Due to the nature of their role and the many unspoken royal style rules they're required to follow [1], there are plenty of occasions when members of the royal family dress similarly. It's not uncommon to see Meghan and Kate step out in the same color on the same day [2], or for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to fight over a pair of sneakers [3], but it's not often you stumble across an item of clothing or accessory that basically every female royal has worn.
Everyone has their go-tos, be it Kate's coat dresses [5], or Meghan's passion for the bateau neckline [6], but when it comes to footwear, one style reigns supreme for the royals: navy pumps. In suede or satin, with a pointed toe or a more rounded shape, these timeless shoes are in every royal wardrobe. Keep reading to see all the pairs that the British royals have worn in recent years, then shop some of their favorites for yourself, plus a few affordable alternatives.
Kate Middleton
Kate owns multiple pairs of navy pumps. In 2018, she was often spotted in a suede pair with slim heels, which are by British footwear designer Rupert Sanderson.
Kate Middleton
Kate's Rupert Sanderson Malory heels are instantly recognizable thanks to the gold trim on the inside of the heel.
Kate Middleton
The Rupert Sanderson pumps also came out when she visited a school to launch a mental health support program.
Kate Middleton
Those well-worn heels were also Kate's choice for a trip to the McLaren Composites Technology Centre.
Kate Middleton
Kate also has a pair of navy suede pumps with a slightly chunkier heel. These are by Jimmy Choo.
Kate Middleton
The Jimmy Choo Georgia pump is a discontinued style that Kate has owned since 2014.
Kate Middleton
Kate has also been spotted in a pair of navy suede shoes with a more rounded toe, which come from one of her favorite designers, Alexander McQueen.
Kate Middleton
Kate is also a fan of Prada shoes, and sported a pair of — you guessed it — navy suede pumps by the Italian brand as she opened a charity shop in Norfolk, England.
Meghan Markle
Meghan knows a royal staple when she sees one. She packed a towering pair of navy pumps for the royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga, and she wore them a number of times on that trip. Here she is wearing them for an event in Fiji.
Meghan Markle
Meghan also wore the shoes for a walkabout in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Meghan Markle
Meghan's navy suede stiletto pumps are the BB style by Manolo Blahnik.
Meghan Markle
Meghan also reached for her navy Manolos for a service at Westminster Abbey marking the centenary of WWI.
Meghan Markle
The duchess also picked her favorite navy heels to complete her all-navy ensemble for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding.
Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice slipped into a pair of navy pumps when she attended Royal Ascot with her sister Eugenie. In keeping with the York sisters' more experimental style, her blue suede heels have a gold accent at the top of the heel.
Princess Beatrice
Beatrice also wore a towering pair of deep blue shoes with embellished toecaps for an Easter service in Windsor.
Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie wore her pointed-toe navy suede pumps with a pretty star-print dress [7].
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
The Countess of Wessex wore navy pumps to an Easter Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Like Meghan, Sophie favors Manolo Blahnik's classic BB pump, though hers are satin, rather than suede.
Zara Tindall
Zara, Princess Anne's daughter, didn't let being heavily pregnant stop her from wearing a towering pair of deep blue heels to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle [8]'s wedding.
Zara Tindall
Zara also wore a pair sky-high navy pumps to the Christmas church service, alongside the entire royal family.
Autumn Phillips
Autumn, who is married to Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, chose to wear her own pair of navy pumps to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle [9]'s wedding.
Manolo Blahnik BB Pump
Get Meghan and Sophie's look with the Manolo Blahnik BB Pointed Toe Pumps [10] ($602).
Rupert Sanderson Malory Pump
Copy Kate's look with the Rupert Sanderson Malory Pumps [11] ($615) — or shop some similar styles from other royal-approved labels, plus a few more affordable options, ahead.
Jimmy Choo Romy 100 Pumps
Jimmy Choo Romy 100 Pumps [12] ($595)
LK Bennett Fern Navy Suede Heel
LK Bennett Fern Navy Suede Heel [13] ($295)
Gianvito Rossi 85 Suede Point-Toe Pump
Gianvito Rossi 85 Suede Point-Toe Pump [14] ($695)
Prada Suede Pointed Toe Pumps
Prada Suede Pointed Toe Pumps [15] ($640)
American Rag Felix Pumps
American Rag Felix Pumps [16] ($50)
Sam Edelman Hazel Pumps
Sam Edelman Hazel Pumps [17] ($104)
Charles by Charles David Maxx Pump
Charles by Charles David Maxx Pump [18] ($99)
Nine West Fifth Point Toe Pumps
Nine West Fifth Point Toe Pumps [19] ($60, originally $90)