Queen Camilla Puts on Designer Pump She’s Been Wearing for 20 Years for Day 3 of Australia Trip

Mikelle Street

Tue, October 22, 2024 at 12:33 AM GMT+7·2 min read

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.

More from Footwear News

The 13 Best Dr. Martens Shoes and Boots to Buy This Fall, According to Footwear Editors
Malone Souliers and Tabitha Simmons Launch Second Collaboration With a British Heritage Twist
Michael Jordan’s Seminal Air Jordan 1 ‘Banned’ Gets an Official Teaser From Jordan Brand

King Charles III of Britain and Queen Camilla are in Australia for a six-day royal visit to Sydney and Canberra. For the trip, the pair are making appearances at memorials, greeting members of the public as well as attending more formal events.

With so many engagements, Camilla is often changing, wearing multiple outfits in one day. But for day three of the trip, she put on a shoe style she’s been wearing for nearly 19 years and wore it with two different outfits.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Queen Camilla and King Charles III visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King's visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and CHOGM in Samoa will be his first as Head of the Commonwealth. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) — Queen Camilla and King Charles III visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia.

The shoe is a classic Chanel pump. First introduced by Karl Lagerfeld in one of the Paris-based label’s 1998 collections, it features a cap-toe design. Done with a bicolor motif, the choice of a largely nude upper with a black toe pulls inspiration from Gabrielle Coco Chanel herself.

She initially began to use the color choices on shoes in order to lengthen the leg, via the nude section, while shortening the foot via the black. In this version, the nude section is made of suede and the black is made of satin.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Queen Camilla looks at a Water Dragon during a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King's visit to Australia will be his first as Monarch, and CHOGM in Samoa will be his first as Head of the Commonwealth. (Photo by Arthur Edwards - Pool/Getty Images) — Queen Camilla looks at a Water Dragon during a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia.

The style features a modest block heel of between two and three inches. The design makes them not only timeless but manageable. The use of beige and black mean that they can match with most other colors, and the decision to use a pump with a heel less than three inches makes them sedate and manageable enough for most contexts. This has been historically been seen as the strenth of Chanel design.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Queen Camilla meets members of the public during a walk about outside Parliament House on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King's visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa will be his first as head of the Commonwealth. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) — Queen Camilla meets members of the public during a walk about outside Parliament House on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia.

Camilla has worn these shoes to public engagements at least since 2005. Earlier this month while in England, she wore them to The Westminster Abbey Sacristy project construction. She’s also worn them to garden parties as she did earlier this year, and receptions.

Some believe she wears the shoes as a token of her love for King Charles III. Some believe that her love for the brand comes from the iconic interlocking Cs, which are also her and Prince Charles’ initials.