Why does Meghan Markle always wear heels at the polo? Duchess is known for choosing impractical stilettos for sporting events (but it’s all to do with acing her photo ops with Prince Harry)
Meghan Markle stole the show in Miami this weekend as she cheered on her husband Prince Harry as he played in a charity polo match in Florida to benefit Sentebale.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, looked ethereal as she strolled along the field in a $812 (£650) white flowing dress dress from California designer Heidi Merrick, paired with a £2,650 Maison Valentino bag – but her choice of footwear sparked discussion among royal fans.
Meghan’s elegant outfit was completed with a pair of £565 pair of ‘Purist 105’ Nude Nappa Leather Pumps from one of her favourite brands, Aquazzura. However, some pointed out that wearing stilettos on a field might not be the most practical shoe choice.
While some people expressed concerns that she would have struggled to walk in the high stilettos as a photo showed the Duchess being helped up the stairs, others suggested she’d struggle to join in with the half time ritual of treading in the divots on the field caused by the horses’ hooves.
It’s not the only sporting event where Meghan has dared to brave the high heels – as she has been spotted in stilettos on rugby fields, basketball courts and running tracks – however, a celebrity photographer has previously revealed she has a very good reason for doing so.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, attended the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida in aid of Sentebale with Prince Harry on Saturday and sparked debate with her choice of footwear
Glenn Gratton previously told FEMAIL Meghan’s footwear choice is likely down to the fact she appears at such sporting events alongside Prince Harry, who is significantly taller than his wife.
While Meghan stands at a modest 5ft 6in, Harry’s height is a towering 6ft 1in, meaning there is a noticeable height difference between the pair.
Gratton said: ‘Couples with a big height difference look slightly unbalanced in pictures , and often the smaller of the two ends up looking even smaller and is constantly looking up at their partner.
The Duchess has previously favoured stilettos on sports fields (pictured at a Santa Barbara polo match in 2022)
Meghan also chooses high heels to attend indoor sporting events – pictured in Australia at the wheelchair basketball in 2018
‘Rod Stewart and his wife Penny have a large gap but this is minimised by Rod wearing Cuban heels and Penny not wearing super high heels.
‘In the case of Harry and Meghan she will be wearing high heels to maximise her height and shorten the gap if possible.’
Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate is known to don trainers or loafers when she attends sporting engagements, but the Duchess is taller than the average British woman.
Kate stands at around 5ft 10in while William is 6ft 2in, meaning she can comfortably wear heels without being taller or sport flats and not feel there’s a gaping discrepancy.
Although Meghan has opted to wear flat shoes for some sporting appearances – such as some events during last year’s Invictus Games in Frankfurt, she tends to favour the high heels.
The Duchess sported very high stiletto heels as she handed out medals to the winning wheelchair basketball team, the USA, at the Invictus Games in Frankfurt last year
In 2022, as she watched Harry play in a polo match in Santa Barbara, Meghan channelled Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman with a stunning polka dot blouse and white shorts – and finished the outfit off perfectly with another pair of Aquazzura heels.
In line with Gratton’s analysis, Meghan and Harry’s height difference was significantly reduced as she took his hand and they walked across the pitch together.
The Duchess also opted for stilettos during last year’s Invictus Games in Frankfurt as she extended her height during some of the events including the wheelchair basketball.
As she presented medals to the winning team, the USA, she sported a chic all-black outfit featuring skinny jeans, a knitted vest and stiletto court shoes.
After noticing her choice of heels again this weekend to watch the polo at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, some fans noted the impracticality of Meghan’s chic outfit.
One person wrote: ‘I’ve been to polo matches there, it’s a real problem in heels, especially at half time when spectators stomp the divots on the pitch.
‘But classy Meghan pulls it off.’
Another expressed concern that Meghan’s heels might be ruined by the divot-stomping.
They wrote: ‘At a polo match in the break between chukkas, it’s the job of the spectators to tread down the divots on the field made by the horses’ hooves.
‘Good luck with those heels Meghan.’
During her time in the UK as a working royal, the Duchess also showed loyalty to the chic stiletto.
When she attended the UK Team Trials for the Invictus Games at Bath University in April 2018, she wore a pair of stiletto heeled boots even though it involved traversing the running track and grass pitch.
And for her first Buckingham Palace Garden party, just days after her wedding to Harry she teamed her nude dress with another sharp stiletto, even though a shorter block heel may have been more comfortable for walking on the grass.
