7 Royally Approved Sneakers to Add to Your Wardrobe ASAP

Tasteful kicks a la Kate, Meghan, even Diana

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When it comes to the British royal family, they rarely met a sport they didn’t like. Between well wishes for the England men’s team during this year’s World Cup and sitting courtside in the royal box at Wimbledon, athletics are their favorite low-pressure pastime. But here’s the kicker: They’re actually quite sporty themselves.

No wonder the likes of Kate Middleton, Princess Diana and Meghan Markle have all reached for rather stylish (and trendy) kicks over the years. And like so many outfits we’re cribbing from the royals, their sneaker—or should we say trainer—selects are attractive, inarguably appropriate and dependably utilitarian, too. Here, a round-up of 7 royally approved styles, all ready to be worn year-round.

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Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Shutterstock

Best for Bopping Around Town

1. Kate Middleton: Veja Esplar Sneakers

Veja

Princess Catherine has reached for these sneakers on repeat for engagements at places like the Natural History Museum in London, but also more recently for a visit to the RHS Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital. The metallic logo accent (Kate’s is rose gold) adds a pop of pizzazz to these classic sneakers from Veja, a French footwear brand founded in 2004 that set standards of eco-responsibility and fair trade. Veja’s known for using organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles in its designs—materials that have since become popular in a wide range of shoes. While the Brazilian leather upper and breathable fabric liner are comfy, the medium padding in this court-inspired shoe is not suited for running distances. But that just means they’ll be all the more pristine for casual wear around town.

Fast Facts

  • Material: leather upper; recycled polyester lining; rubber sole
  • Size Range: 35 to 42
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Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Best Tried-and-True

2. Princess Diana: Superga 2750 Cotu Classic

Superga

The late Princess of Wales wasn’t the only royal to reach for Superga: Kate Middleton regularly wears the classic canvas style, too. (Diana opted for navy, whereas Princess Catherine wears white.) Why has this particular tennis shoe withstood the test of royal time? For one thing, it’s a pretty simple silhouette. Featuring a breathable cotton upper and a vulcanized natural rubber sole, it pairs easily with any look be it denim and a double-breasted blazer (per Diana, who wore them to walk through a field of landmines in Angola shortly before her death in 1997) or with a dress, as the current Princess of Wales is known to wear.

Fast Facts

  • Material: cotton and canvas upper; volcanized gum sole
  • Size Range: 5 to 17
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247PAPS.TV/Shutterstock

The Duchess of Sussex was pregnant with her son Archie in February 2019 when she donned basic black—including tone-on-tone Adidas—on a trip to New York City for a baby shower with her closest American pals. Good choice of footwear, since Adidas’s signature Boost midsole design has a cushiony feel, and the shoe is engineered to return energy to the leg with each stride, creating a little bounce. The basic black colorway only adds to her chic ensemble, available in both black and white soles—minimalism at its best.

Fast Facts

  • Materials: uppers made of recycled polyester; 50 percent re-imagined ocean waste
  • Size Range: 5 to 12
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AL123/Shutterstock

At the Badminton Horse Trials earlier this spring, Sperling—who married Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, in June—donned the “it” shoe of a royal summer and in a striking burgundy hue. Featuring a textured upper and smooth leather overlays, it’s the suede finish that makes the Gazelle silhouette such a stand-out. In such a luxe shade, it brings polish to Sperling’s otherwise laidback and relaxed ensemble while delivering plenty of comfort and support, too.

Fast Facts

  • Materials: leather upper
  • Size Range: 5 to 12
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SplashNews.com/Shutterstock

At the time, Kate Middleton was still the Duchess of Cambridge when she donned these low-key and effortless sneakers. The royal engagement? A sailing regatta on the Isle of Wright, called the King’s Regatta Cup. Kate put them to the test while wearing the team’s uniform and still looked impossibly chic. But this particularly pair of royally endorsed sneakers is designed to deliver top-notch support. They’re designed for active use (and still look stylish) while providing enough comfort for all-day wear.

Fast Facts

  • Material: mesh upper; rubber outsole
  • Size Range: 5 to 12
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SplashNews.com/Shutterstock

Most Versatile

6. Meghan Markle: Veja V-10 Prime

Veja

Meghan and Harry visited Australia for the Invictus Games in 2018, and both wore leather sneakers (Meghan sported Vejas, Harry went with Adidas) on an open boat out in Sydney Harbor. Splashes notwithstanding, both pairs survived the voyage. As for Meghan’s Vejas, they’re elegant in their simplicity without any chrome lace guards to break up the white-leather and black logo. The EVA-cushioned footbed is also notably comfy for long walks and there’s a choice of suede and smooth leather fabrications with this Veja design.

Fast Facts

  • Material: bovine leather upper; EVA insole; leather lining
  • Size Range: 4 to 11.5
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David Hartley/Shutterstock

Best for Actual Exercise

7. Kate Middleton: lululemon Chargefeel 3

lululemon

Kate Middleton donned these for a practice session with Maidenhead Rugby Club, and she certainly didn’t shy away from putting this sneaker—which has quite a following—through its paces. Designed specifically for women’s feet, this shoe is designed for running and training and provides a midsole that features springy cushioning, allowing you to quickly shift your balance while also experiencing best-in-class support. The breathable material and cute aesthetic are added bonuses. No wonder the Princess of Wales is a fan.

Fast Facts

  • Material: Nulu fabric; mesh upper; dual-density foam midsole
  • Size Range: 5 to 12

The 13 Most Comfortable Sneakers for Women That Money Can Buy, According to PureWow Editors


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Rachel Bowie

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College

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