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queen ballet slippers

This was Queen Elizabeth II's favourite nail polish colour and it's stunning

The Queen wore the same shade for over 30 years...

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Leanne Bayley
Director of Lifestyle & Commerce
Updated: September 19, 2022
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The late Queen Elizabeth II only let one shade of nail polish touch her finger tips and it was by none other than Essie. 

Aptly named 'Ballet Slippers', this hue was the Queen’s go-to colour from 1989 - when Her Majesty's hairdresser penned a letter to brand founder Essie Weingarten to request a bottle of the elegant, best-selling polish.

MORE: 5 times the Queen was an exquisite beauty icon

The pretty pink shade is still available to buy on Amazon, currently retailing for just £6.40.

ballet slippers

Essie Ballet Slippers, £6.40, Amazon

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Born in the 80s, the brand started out producing long-lasting, high-quality nail polishes with a fashion focus. Known by insiders as the nail-colour authority, Essie now has more than 1000 glossy shades to its name. 

RELATED: The Queen's glove maker reveals why her Majesty always wears the chic accessory

ballet slippers sheer

Ballet Slippers is a sheer polish but can be buildable - as seen above on two different skin tones

The muted colour worked perfectly for the Queen, who often chose to wear two-pieces and coats in notably punchy tones.

PHOTOS: The Queen's rainbow style: from vibrant suits to bright day dresses

The Queen wasn't the only royal fan of the brand, either. When the Duchess of Cambridge married Prince William in 2011, manicurist Marina Sandoval blended Essie's ultra-wearable 'Allure' shade with Bourjois' So Laque Nail Enamel in 'Rose Lounge' (a pastel pink hue) to create a lovely, timeless colour.

The Duchess of Sussex is also thought to favour Essie's Ballet Slippers, just like the Queen.

MORE: 7 books celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic style

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