Rare Photos of the Royal Family's Best Sneaker Moments for Style Inspiration This Spring

royals in sneakers
How the Royal Family Styles Their Sneakers Hearst Owned

The royal family isn't exactly known as a sweatpants and t-shirts crowd. Their official duties and royal protocols tend to call for them to be impeccably dressed—a state that often precludes some of the more casual, everyday elements from their wardrobes. But while they may often be seen sporting towering heels and polished oxfords, that doesn't mean that they don't dip into casual staples like sneakers from time to time. Whether it's for working out, getting physical at sporty royal events, or just adding a splash of cool to their day-to-day looks, here's how the royals style their sneakers (or, as they're more likely to call them, trainers).


August 08, 2019

For the inaugural Kings Cup regatta charitable event, Prince William and Kate Middleton embraced the sporty spirit with shorts and sneakers.

the duke and duchess of cambridge take part in the king's cup regatta
Antony Jones - Getty Images


January 24, 1996

Even on her way out of the gym, Princess Diana managed to serve a dose of glamour in a dramatic red coat.

a windswept princess diana leaves her lo
GERRY PENNY - Getty Images


September 15, 2019

The family that wears sneakers together stays together. Just ask Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, and granddaughter Mia Tindall.

More: Get to Know the Late Queen Elizabeth's Great-Grandchildren

gatcombe horse trials at gatcombe park
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


June 22, 2021

Sneakers added an outdoorsy element to the peach blazer and jeans that Kate sported while visiting 'The Urban Nature Project' at The Natural History Museum in London.

the duchess of cambridge visits the natural history museum
Samir Hussein - Getty Images


April 28, 2016

Patron of England Hockey, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, showed her skills during a visit to the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.

sophie, countess of wessex visits england hockey at bisham abbey
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


October 29, 2018

To walk around Abel Tasman National Park during her and Prince Harry's royal tour of New Zealand, Meghan Markle opted for a classic pair of white sneakers.

the duke and duchess of sussex visit new zealand
Pool/Samir Hussein - Getty Images


October 19, 1985

What better to wear to a driving lesson in a 15-ton tank than sneakers? Princess Diana donned a squeaky clean pair while visiting the 1st Battalion of the Royal Hampshire Regiment in West Berlin, Germany.

anwar hussein archive
Anwar Hussein - Getty Images


February 27, 2019

Prince William got in a bit of soccer during a trip to Windsor Park Stadium, the home of the Irish Football Association.

duke and duchess of cambridge visit northern ireland day one
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


July 05, 2019

As Princess Beatrice knows, a sundress and sneakers is a classic combo for a reason.

barclaycard presents british summer time hyde park
Eamonn M. McCormack - Getty Images


March 15, 2012

While meeting with the hockey teams for the 2012 Olympics, Kate tried her hand at the game too.

the duchess of cambridge visits the olympic park
Chris Jackson - Getty Images


April 14, 1982

Princess Anne displayed how to make sneakers equally sporty and stylish at the Badminton Horse Trials.

peter phillips and anne at badminton
Tim Graham - Getty Images


July 10, 2019

Prince George appeared to enjoy running around outdoors in his sneaks at a charity polo match in which his dad, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry, were playing.

the duke of cambridge and the duke of sussex take part in the king power royal charity polo day
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


June 10, 1988

Diana got into the swing of things with this tennis outfit, appropriate footwear very much included, at the Vanderbilt Racquet Club in London.

More: Photos fo the Royals Playing Tennis

diana at the vanderbilt racquet club
Princess Diana Archive - Getty Images


October 21, 2018

During the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney, Harry and Meghan took a tour of Sydney Harbour, both wearing sneakers.

invictus games sydney 2018 day 2
Chris Jackson - Getty Images

Kate doesn't reserve her sneakers for sports—the Duchess of Cambridge also wears them with aplomb in fashionable outfits like this one she wore to the Chelsea Flower Show.

rhs chelsea flower show 2019 press day
Karwai Tang - Getty Images


July 28, 2012

Princess Anne may be known for her sporty sunglasses, but that's not the only athletic gear in her wardrobe, as she displayed at the first day of the 2012 Olympics Games in London.

queen elizabeth ii visits olympic park
WPA Pool - Getty Images


July 17, 2010

Naturally, for a round of cricket, Prince William chose a pair of athletic sneakers.

prince william plays pub cricket
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


February 5, 2017

Kate faced off again Prince William and Prince Harry in a race during London Marathon Training Day.

the duke duchess of cambridge and prince harry join team heads together at a london marathon training day
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


August 3, 2019

What's cuter than a royal in sneakers? A tiny royal in tiny sneakers, as proven by Lena Tindall, on her mom, Zara Tindall's shoulders.

the 2019 festival of british eventing
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


January 13, 1997

For a speech in Angola as part of her tour of Red Cross projects, Princess Diana sported Supergas—a brand that her daughter-in-law Kate Middleton also loves.

More: The Royal Family's Favorite Shoe Brands

diana speech
Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library - Getty Images


February 20, 2019

A couple of months before the birth of her son, Archie, Meghan headed to NYC for a visit, looking cute yet casual in all-black look with matching sneakers.

celebrity sightings in new york city february 20, 2019
Adrian Edwards - Getty Images


July 24, 2016

Kate often opts for a pair of sneakers while William chooses more formal shoes, but the Cambridges flipped that script at the America's Cup World Series in Portsmouth, England.

duke and duchess of cambridge at america's cup world series
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


November 20, 1995

On the day of her infamous Panorama interview, the Princess of Wales made time for a trip to the gym—and to serve up some biker shorts style inspiration.

britain's princess of wales departs her london hea
JOHNNY EGGITT - Getty Images


April 27, 2015

During a trip to NYC, Princess Eugenie hit the pavement in a comfy pair of sneakers.

celebrity sightings in new york city april 27, 2015
Alo Ceballos - Getty Images


May 27, 2021

Kate played a game with local school children as part of the Lawn Tennis Association's Youth program in Scotland.

britain scotland royals
ANDY BUCHANAN - Getty Images


July 1, 2021

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, showed off a perfect high-low pairing with sneakers and a blazer and maxi skirt at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

the royal windsor horse show 2021
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images


July 26, 1999

Prince William must have inherited his mother's knack for artful informality, as he showed off a simple ensemble of jeans, a sweater, and sneakers.

prince william photocall at highgrove
Julian Parker - Getty Images


September 18, 1993

Prince Edward looked perfectly appropriate, wearing classic tennis white and of course, tennis shoes.

edward tennis
Tim Graham - Getty Images


May 26, 2021

Kate paired her sleek navy and white nautical look with casual sneakers.

britain scotland royals
CHRIS JACKSON - Getty Images

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