The royals and their sporty shades: From Princess Anne’s recycled Adidas pair (which match her daughter Zara’s) to William and Harry’s polo sunglasses
Princess Anne is known for her sporty sense of style and love for keeping things practical.
Her Adidas sunglasses are one accessory the princess has worn plenty of times – most recently at the Olympics in Paris.
The frameless racing design incorporates red polarised lenses and the Team GB logo.
Her daughter, Zara, was originally given a pair as part of her kit when she represented her country as an equestrian at the London 2012 Olympics.
Anne was pictured wearing the same design at the event and has since re-worn them on several occasions – including at the Cheltenham Festival in 2015.
Prince Harry and Prince William are also fans of sporty shades, as is Prince Albert of Monaco and his son Jacques.
Princess Anne wearing Adidas Team GB shades as she sits with her father Prince Philip to watch her daughter Zara compete at the 2012 London Olympics
The Princess wore the same sunglasses for the Cheltenham Festival in 2015. She paired the sporty shades with a camel coat and feathered hat
Princess Anne wearing the Team GB shades during the medal ceremony for the Eventing Team final at this year’s Olympics in Paris
Zara’s original shades
When Zara competed in the 2012 Olympics she was given a pair of Team GB-branded specs to wear with her kit.
The royal went on to win silver in the three-day equestrian event, riding 11-year-old High Kingdom.
She missed out on the 2004 Athens games and Beijing 2008 due to injuries but made up for her past absence when the competition came to England.
It was also the same competition that Princess Anne was first seen wearing the same shades, as well as other Olympic merchandise while she proudly watched her daughter.
When Zara competed in the 2012 Olympics she was given a pair of Team GB-branded specs to wear with her kit
The royal won a silver medal during the three-day equestrian event, pictured here during the Welcome Ceremony
Prince William’s sporty specs
For his recent game of polo, Prince William wore black wraparound sunglasses.
The keen sportsman was showcasing his skills at the Royal Charity Polo Cup in Windsor earlier this month.
The match was in memory of the late Rugby League legend and MND campaigner Rob Burrow, who William met in January this year.
The charity match raises money for good causes and the prince has played 13 times over the years, raising millions.
He has worn similar shades over the years, including at a polo match in 2017.
Prince William sporting racing shades at a charity polo match in Windsor earlier this month
William playing in another polo match in 2017, wearing different sporty sunglasses
Prince Harry’s athletic shades
In a similar style to his bother, Prince William, Harry sported a pair of black, quirky-cut sunglasses for a polo game in Cape Town in 2015.
However, perhaps they didn’t provide quite enough shade as Harry managed to fall from his polo pony.
The royal, who had scored a goal minutes earlier, appeared unhurt and quickly got to his feet. He walked off the field before returning to play soon after.
Prince Harry sporting a pair of black, quirky-cut lenses for a polo game in Cape Town in 2015
Charles and Diana sporting shades
Princess Diana enjoyed multiple skiing holidays with William and Harry, and always made sure to dress for the occasion.
During a trip to Lech, Austria, in 1991, the Princess wore a pair of dark, rectangle shades to help shield her eyes from the bright white snow.
Prince William and Harry were also suitably kitted out, with Harry wearing sporty green and yellow framed glasses.
William also had a pair of shades, but his were a rounder design.
Princess Diana, with her sons, wearing a pair of dark, rectangle shades to help shield her eyes from the bright white snow in Lech, Austria, in 1991. Harry wore a pair of sporty shades, while William’s glasses were more rounded
Prince Charles, with William and Harry, wearing a pair of red, yellow, white and blue frames during a ski trip in Switzerland in 1996
Charles was also known to enjoy a ski trip with his sons, and was always suitably kitted out.
The then Prince of Wales wore a wide lens pair of sporty shades when skiing with William and Harry in Switzerland in 1996.
The royal had red, yellow, white and blue frames, which contrasted with his grey salopettes.
Harry and William went for a more simple look, both in black lenses.
Prince Albert of Monaco
At a sporting event in 2017, Prince Albert of Monaco chose sporty sunglasses with red frames.
They matched his red, white and black kit he wore to participate in the Riviera Water Bike Challenge.
His wife Princess Charlene wore mirrored sunglasses by Dior for the occasion and watched on as her husband hopped aboard a water bike.
Princess Charlene wearing Dior sunglasses and Prince Albert of Monaco donning a sporty pair of shades in 2017
Princess Charlene’s sunglasses
As well as being known for her elegant fashion sense, Princess Charlene of Monaco has regularly reached for a pair of sporty sunglasses.
In 2020 the royal wore a pair of Scicon sunglasses to the Water Bike Challenge in Monaco.
The wide-framed black lenses definitely helped to provide plenty of shade.
She paired them with a red sports top to complete the athletic look.
Princess Charlene wearing a pair of large black Scicon sunglasses to a Water Bike Challenge in Monaco
Prince Jacques of Monaco’s shades
Taking after his parents, Prince Jacques has also jumped on the sporty shade trend.
In 2020, Jacques wore a pair of Oakley Youth sunglasses as he accompanied his mother to the Water Bike Challenge.
The white frame paired with a red polarised lens created a fashionable look for the young royal.
Prince Jacques sporting a pair of trendy Oakley Youth sunglasses in 2020
