The stylish royal has often opted for cork wedges at various events, including the Olympics and her tours to Singapore and New Zealand. She also wore wedges as part of her everyday look for the Commonwealth Games. Catherine often opts for elegant designs from brands like CA and Sophie, which compliment her outfits without being too flashy. Before her marriage to Prince William, Catherine favoured Rafia wedges for their classic appeal and sturdy design.
These closed-toe wedges have become a royal fashion icon, as she wore them before her wedding at the Goring Hotel and again when she left Buckingham Palace for her honeymoon in April 2011. Catherine’s love of wedges was first noticed at the AI Polo Challenge at Cow Park in May 2012, where she paired them with a shirt dress. Since then, she has worn them on a number of occasions, including trips to the Solomon Islands and Sydney, and most recently in 2022 with a smart Tory Burch dress.
The popular wedge design features a back strap closure and a wedge heel, so much so that Catherine even bought black wedges. She was spotted wearing these black wedges at the Tidworth Polo Club in July 2006 and continued to wear them for charity events and casual outings, such as when she welcomed Prince George in July 2013. Between 2012 and 2014, Catherine was seen wearing camel Stuart Weitzman minks on several occasions, including at a polo match and the royal tour of Australia.
Almost ten years later, she wore the cork wedges back on a visit to Bise during her 2022 Caribbean tour. In April 2016, while on tour in India, Catherine showed off her sporty side by playing cricket in the Monsoon espadrille wedges, proving their practicality as she was able to move around with ease despite the intense activity. Catherine wore her low-heeled wedges again at a charity polo match in June 2018 and during a visit to Fakenham Garden Centre in June 2020.
The British retailer behind the wedges has been her go-to shoe for many royal appearances, including visits to Cornwall, a Canadian garden party and the 2019 Back to Nature Festival. Duchess Catherine has often been seen wearing the Castan Carina wedges, notably during the Royal Caribbean tour in 2022. Since debuting the wedges in 2019, she has worn them at numerous public events, often pairing them with midi or maxi dresses for an elegant summer look. Made from comfortable canvas, these modern wedges have become a staple of hers over the years.
A new addition to her collection, she laced up the tan wedges for her Back to Nature Garden exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. Most recently, Katherine opted for the wedges for an event at the Chelsea Flower Show on 2 May 2023, where she interacted with schoolchildren. The chic espadrille wedges feature a thin ankle strap and a high heel. Known for her penchant for pointed heels, Catherine has often worn heels from designers like John Vito Rossi, Aquazzura and Jimmy Choo. However, for her engagement in May 2023, she opted for her trusty espadrille wedges, signaling the arrival of summer. For the Chelsea Flower Show, she paired her summery beige and tan Castan wedges with a trendy pink long-sleeved shirt dress that featured delicate buttons and elegant pleats.