The British royals wear sneakers far more than you might think, and when a royal does step out in a pair of trainers, we're enthralled. Case in point? The Princess of Wales, who is often spotted wearing a pair - and that includes on royal engagements. The mum-of-three even wore her favourite pair, classic Veja's, in a poignant video detailing her health journey. See? This woman knows the versatility of a good old pair of white trainers, wearing them with dresses and jeans.
- Kate's most worn trainers: Superga Cotu Classic Trainers
- Kate's tennis trainers: The Roger Advantage Trainers
- Kate's favourite white trainers: Veja Esplar
- Kate's favourite running trainers: New Balance Fresh Foam Trainer
- Kate's favourite trainers under £30: M&S Lace-up Trainers
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A royal wearing trainers might seem a little déclassé , but nowadays, it's not that unusual. Meghan Markle, Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall love a good pair of trainers, and even Queen Camilla does too - she's a fan of a chunky white sneaker.
© InstagramThe Princess of Wales' trainers: What the experts say
The Princess of Wales' choice of trainers has had a big impact on not only the sales of sneakers (they sell out as soon as she wears them) and how we wear them, too.
"We’ve definitely seen a shift in the belief that heels were a mandatory requirement for formal attire and now even sporty sneakers effortlessly add a touch of fun to a look while staying stylish - as the Princess of Wales proves again and again," comments stylist Helen Canning. "A box-fresh pair of trainers can gracefully tone down traditionally formal pieces like blazers and suits and this simple styling trick knows no bounds or social hierarchy, as even royals have embraced this trend, solidifying its position as a fashion staple.
"In the ever-evolving world of fashion, pairing trainers with tailored outfits has now become a the norm and the fusion of comfort and style is a match made in wardrobe heaven. Long gone are the days when dresses and trainers were considered an unconventional pairing - remember Lily Allen launching onto the scene in her then surprising trademark outfits of prom dresses and trainers in the noughties? The dress/trainer look has now become a go-to.
"Just be sure to make like Kate and keep your kicks cleaner than clean for a polished look from top-to-toe!"
From classic styles to on-trend designs and colourful hues, we've done a deep dive into Kate's trainers and found out where to buy them.
The Princess of Wales' trainers - and where to shop them:
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Superga Cotu Classic
© GettyKate has made countless appearances wearing her favourite Superga 2750 Cotu Classic trainers. From arriving at her 'Back to Nature' garden at the Chelsea Flower Show last year wearing the plimsolls to the King's Cup Regatta in August 2020. Sweetly, Princess Diana also loved the same style.
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Superga 2750 Cotu Classic
Last year, the royal shared a previously-unseen photograph from her time working on her own garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, and as usual fans loved seeing a glimpse at another never-before-seen outfit.
This time around, it was an off-duty look for Kate - and she looked effortless in a loose khaki shirt (thought to be past-season Zara), blue skinny jeans and a green pair of her favourite Superga trainers. Kate's casual pumps are made in a khaki green canvas and have a contrast rubber sole.
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ON The Roger Advantage Trainers
Prince William's wife was in her element as she played doubles with US Open champion Emma Raducanu in 2021. She wore ON Running's 'The Roger' sneakers in the hopes of playing like a pro, no doubt.
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Veja Esplar Trainers White & Gold
Early 2021, Kate joined husband William as they returned to the University of St Andrews, where they met 20 years ago.
The mother-of-three donned one of her favourite, past-season Breton-striped tops for the occasion, and a pair of Veja trainers. The environmentally-friendly, sustainable shoes are big news right now, so the Princess is bang on trend with this one.
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New Balance Fresh Foam Cruz v2 Sport
Dressed in her sporty kit for the King's Cup sailing race last year, Kate debuted a new style of her favourite New Balance numbers. The trendy trainers feature a knitted fabric and are still available.
She wore the same pair in navy blue back in 2017, during a visit to the Irish Football Association in Belfast. The style is called the 'Fresh Foam Cruz v2 Sport' and the brand has since launched plenty of similar versions of the spongey sneakers.
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Nike Air VaporMax FlyKnit
Towards the end of 2017 Kate was ready for action in Monreal London track pants and a Nike top. Her trainers? One of her coolest pairs to date, the Nike VaporMax sneakers in a light blue shade. She wore the pair again in 2019 to visit a primary school in London.
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Adidas Supernova
The Princess opted for a bright pair of Adidas kicks to watch some events at the 2012 London Olympics; with the red trim of her jacket and red tee, this is a woman who knows how to coordinate.
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Adidas Running Ultraboost 23 trainers
The Princess of Wales swapped a pair of Rupert Sanderson courts for a pair of lightweight £90 trainers when showing off her rowing skills in Portsmouth with Sir Ben Ainslie back in 2016. The snazzy turquoise laces jazzed up her all-black-ensemble like a style icon would.
Kate's Pureboost design has now sold out, but Adidas' revamped versions, the Ultraboost, are a great alternative - just switch the laces out for a bright, bold blue like Kate.
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Legero Women's Tanaro 5.0 Sneakers
The first time Kate was seen wearing her grey suede Mint Velvet 'Bibi' plimsolls was back in 2013; a year later, she packed them for the Royal Tour to Australia and New Zealand. The style has long gone, but try Amazon's minimal sneakers for a similar look.
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ASICS Gel-Solution Trainers
What does one wear to take part in a tennis workshop with Judy Murray? Tennis shoes of course! Kate stayed true to the theme with these classic ASICS. Try the new style for summer sports.
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M&S Lace-up Trainers
Kate stepped out in an off-duty look back in February 2020, looking lovely in her green culottes and comfy trainers. Kate's green stripe trainers were actually from British staple Marks & Spencer, and cost just £29.50. Unsurprisingly, they flew off the shelves - but they've been restocked in new colourways.
