The royal feet-ure we rarely see: After Queen Camilla kicked off her shoes in Australia… other times the well-heeled royals have gone barefoot
Often immaculately dressed from head to toe, the royals rarely waver from their pristine, put-together image.
But occasionally the well-heeled family do step out of the regal formalities… and their shoes.
After a long day of meeting Australian fans in Sydney this week, Queen Camilla slipped off her heels as she walked back to Admiralty House with King Charles.
But Camilla is far from the first to go barefoot.
Princess Kate removed her shoes in Solomon Islands in 2012 and Princess Anne took off her heels in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Whether for comfort or to follow tradition read on for more moments when the royals have forgone their footwear.
Queen Camilla walks to Admiralty House with King Charles without her shoes on after a busy day in Australia
Camilla waving to Australian fans during her visit to the Sydney Opera House with Charles
Princess Kate
Back in 2012, the Prince and Princess of Wales carried out a Diamond Jubilee tour in the South Pacific, representing the late Queen.
Kate slipped off her Russell and Bromley wedges while William removed his loafers and they walked barefoot through Tavanipupu in the Solomon Islands.
They were gifted colourful necklaces from islanders made of shell money, worth up to £150 each.
The couple did not look out of place without their shoes as other villagers also went barefoot.
Some had walked for up to six hours through forests to get to Marau, the village Kate and William were visiting.
Princess Kate going barefoot with Prince William during a visit to Tavanipupu Island in 2012
Zara Tindall
After competing in the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions polo tournament in 2019, Zara Tindall headed down the Australian coast to Byron Bay with her husband, Mike Tindall.
The Queen’s eldest granddaughter was photographed in a blue and white striped beach cover-up with a tassel detail, sunglasses and bare feet.
She enjoyed a three-day break with her husband, who was seen carrying a surfboard to the beach.
The couple had attended a series of polo events as special guests.
Zara Tindall taking a break in Byron Bay, Australia, back in 2019
Sarah Ferguson
Back in 2010, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, jetted off on a luxury Mediterranean holiday on the Italian island of Sardinia.
She partied at hotel magnate Sir Sol Kerzner’s 75th birthday party with Naomi Campbell and was pictured walking barefoot while the supermodel wore flipflops.
Sarah received backlash for the trip – it was reportedly her eight holiday abroad that summer after she had racked up £5million of debt.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, walking with Naomi Campbell in Italy in 2010
Meghan Markle
The Duchess of Sussex didn’t hesitate to get involved during her visit to Rotorua, New Zealand, with Prince Harry in 2018.
Meghan slipped off her £556 navy Manolo Blahnik stilettos when she stepped inside the Te Papaiouru Marae, as is customary in Māori culture.
The couple spent time meeting locals and Meghan pressed her forehead and nose up against a man for the traditional ‘Hongi’ greeting.
Meghan was gifted korowai – a traditional Māori woven cloak – honouring her pregnancy and the significance of female ancestors.
Meghan Markle visiting Te Papaiouru Marae with Prince Harry during their autumn tour in 2018
Princess Anne
In January this year Princess Anne kicked off her shoes alongside her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, during their Sri Lanka tour.
The Princess Royal was photographed wearing a floral necklace.
Still appearing to wear tights, while Sir Tim wore socks, Anne walked through Vajira Pillayar Kovil Hindu temple in Colombo.
The trip marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Sri Lanka.
Princess Anne walking without her shoes during a visit to Vajira Pillayar Kovil Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, earlier this year
Princess Diana
Princess Diana never shied away from getting stuck in, especially when it came down to her sons’ sports days.
At Prince William’s in 1989 the Princess of Wales took off her shoes and gave the 80-yards sprint her best shot.
‘The royal runner-up, wearing a white shirt top and matching skirt, was pipped at the post in a final dash to the line by one of the other 40 mothers of children attending,’ the Daily Mail reported.
Princess Diana running barefoot during Prince William’s sports day in 1989
In 1991, Diana’s competitive streak came out again when she raced in Prince Harry’s sports day.
‘She was dressed for speed – in a loose-fitting skirt and top and bare feet,’ the Mail wrote at the time.
Despite her best efforts, the princess was beaten for the second year in a row.
The late Princess of Wales running again during Prince Harry’s sports day in 1991
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Just a few weeks before she married Prince Albert of Monaco, Princess Charlene attended the JetSet Party for the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco.
The former Olympic swimmer slipped off her shoes but wore a sleek cream dress, paired with a small clutch bag and had her hair swept behind her face in a chic and simple style.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, weeks before she married Prince Albert, attending a party in 2011 barefoot
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Back in 2019, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, paid a visit to Syrian refugees displaced by conflict.
She wore a long blue skirt and maroon blouse, paired with chunky wedge heels which she took off when she visited a family’s tent in the Bekaa Valley.
The Countess interacted with six-year-old Sidra and Rim, five, while chatting to their mother Asmaa, 25.
It marked the first official visit to Lebanon by a member of the British Royal Family and was not announced beforehand for security reasons.
Sophie, then Countess of Wessex, paying a visit to Syrian refugees displaced by conflict in 2019
Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra of Kent visited Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, in Myanmar, which was Burma at the time, in 1961.
During her trip, she went to the sacred Shwe Dagon Temple where shoes and sandals were not allowed.
When the princess took off her shoes, the Mail reported that she said: ‘What a relief in this heat!’
Princess Alexandra of Kent in the sacred Shwe Dagon Temple where shoes and sandals were not allowed in 1961
