She swapped her boots for stilettos.
Kate Middleton may not have spent much time in the public eye this past year, but her ability to subtly update an outfit on a moment’s notice remains intact. Case in point? Yesterday’s shoe switch, which she pulled off somewhere in between greeting the Emir of Qatar and stepping inside Buckingham Palace, where King Charles presented the Royal Collection at the King’s Gallery to his guests.
The main event of Kate’s first look was a burgundy coat courtesy of Alexander McQueen, tailored to perfection and paired with a matching pillbox hat. Royal fans were quick to notice—and praise—the fact that it was an upcycled look, which the Princess had previously worn to a service commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II. She completed the outfit with a pair of matching leather knee-high boots and heirloom jewelry from the late Queen’s collection.
Once inside the museum, however, Kate was spotted with an entirely different pair of shoes; instead of the boots, she had stepped into a pair of burgundy stilettos. The switch was so seamless it might have gone unnoticed, if not for the watchful eye of a royal fan.
“Don’t miss the detail!!” One fan wrote, as reported by The Sun. “To join the rest of the Royal Family for the visit of the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery, Princess Catherine has changed her boots into a pair of burgundy stiletto heels.”
Kate’s shoes for the second half of her day were the Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito 105’ pumps in Royale Burgundy Suede—an aptly named choice for the princess whose busy schedule this week has marked her triumphant return to the public eye. After spending much of the year undergoing chemotherapy treatment, Kate is now back—and busier than ever, thanks, in part, to Queen Camilla’s ongoing health issues. Next up on Kate’s schedule? Her annual Christmas carol concert, taking place this Friday in Westminster Abbey.