It’s an undisputed fact that, in her own way, Queen Elizabeth II is very much a fashion icon for the ages. From the Norman Hartnell gowns that defined her look in the 1950s to the Balmoral Hermes scarf and wax jacket combo to the rainbow-hued co-ords that have become her staple, Her Majesty has honed a definitive personal style throughout her 65-year reign. What we’ve so far neglected to notice, however, is that the Queen has long been a low-key pioneer of one of the biggest footwear trends to emerge in the last few years: the horsebit loafer.
On a recent trip to the Royal Academy of Arts, opening a new wing to celebrate the institution’s 250th anniversary, Her Majesty officially marked the start of spring with a bold orange coat and matching hat. On her feet? A pair of leather loafers. At first glance, her footwear appears nearly identical to Gucci’s ubiquitous design, as seen on just about every celebrity, model and influencer since creative director Alessandro Michele re-introduced the classic style in his debut collection for the house. And on further investigation, it seems the Queen has long favoured this particular shoe, wearing the classic style with a sturdy low heel for royal events for the best part of the last decade, predating the current vogue by a good few years.
As appealing as it is to imagine Her Majesty firing off a Net-A-Porter order to pick up a new pair of Gucci loafers, or perhaps sending a missive directly to Michele himself, we have to break it to you that the pairs favoured by Elizabeth are not, in fact, the work of the storied Italian fashion house. Instead, they’re most likely the handiwork of Covent Garden-based shoemakers Anello & Davide, who have succeeded Rayne as the Queen’s shoemakers of choice. It’s thought that she owns similar pairs in a selection of colours and finishes, with an assortment of heels for different occasions. Jealous, us?
NOW READ: An A-Z Of Queen Elizabeth II's Style
SEE: The Queen Of Style
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London-based footwear brand Anello and Davide is where the Queen purchases some of her favourite shoes. And it was recently revealed that Her Majesty has hired someone to break in her block heels... If that's not goals, then we don't know what is.
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The Queen's most cherished piece of jewellery? The brooch. Her Majesty is rarely seen without a bejewelled pin on the left of her jacket. She'll even go so far as to pesonalising her brooch depending on the country she is visiting.
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The Queen of England? More like the Queen of colour-blocking. Her Majesty has a talent for making anything look brilliant whether its head-to-toe fuchsia or this season's 'It' hue, yellow.
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Diamonds are the Queen's best friend, after all.
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Enjoy fashion. What inspires us the most about the Queen is the way in which she embraces fashion. She plays with the colour palette, experiments with hats and is never, ever short of Instagrammable accessorises. But the best part? She's always dressed for the day ahead. Whether she's travelling by horse-drawn carriage or, well, the tube...
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Believe it or not, the Queen was the original festival girl. Just take a moment to appreciate the flower-embellished hats she donned in the late seventies.
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We can't help but wonder if the Queen inspired Princess Diana's love of colourful gloves?
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We doubt the Queen ever has a bad hair day but if she does, she's got a failsafe plan. Whether she's out riding her horses or going on a state visit, Her Majesty is sure to don a fabulous headscarf. And of course, the accessory will always match her co-ords.
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Invest. The Queen rarely performs outfit repeats. So ensure you have a co-ord for every possible occasion. You never know who you might meet and quite frankly, it could be a little embarassing...
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The Queen has reportedly never worn jeans. Or at least, she's never been spotted in public donning a pair.
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Keep your corgis close. The Queen's greatest accessories are of course her beloved pets. You cannot even begin to channel the Queen's majestic aesthetic without the help of the most quintessentially royal emblem there is.
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Let loose on the sparkles. You needn't be a princess to don glitter. The Queen debuted one of our favourite looks to date back in 1964 when she attended a banquet at Claridge's in a gold dress and fur stole.
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The Queen has been carrying the miniature handbag before we even knew they were a trend.
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Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November, 1947. As the second world war had only just come to an end, Her Majesty had to purchase material for her wedding dress using ration coupons. The gown was designed by Norman Hartnell and was made from white satin.
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Rule number one when it comes to royal protocall? One can never be overdressed. So don layers of pearls, faux-furs and always choose the sparkliest tiara.
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Well, you couldn't possibly rule as the Queen of England without pearls. Her Majesty is rarely spotted without a full set.
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Rainbow hues. There isn't a colour on the spectrum that the Queen cannot pull off. Whether it's primary red or sunny yellow. We challenge you to find someone who wears it better. Good luck.
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Rule the fashion scene. The Queen is never afraid to don the brightest colour in the crowd or debut the sparkliest tiara. Channel Her Majesty this season with similar flair and enthusiasm.
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Seek sartorial inspiration from your mum. Her Majesty often co-ordinated with the late Queen Mother. The mother/daughter duo often sported similar hats, hairstyles and miniature handbags.
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The Queen has only ever been photographed in trousers once. Her Majesty was pictured in a suit by Ian Thomas during the 1970 Royal Canadian Tour.
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The Queen is as dedicated to fashion as she is to her royal duties. And if she's going to colour-block her outfit, she isn't one to do it half-heartedly. Her Majesty even goes so far as to co-ordinate her umbrellas to her outfits.
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Veer away from monochrome. The Queen is no Scandi-wannabe. Want proof? We challenge you to find an ounce of minimalism in her wardrobe. So channel the rainbow and you'll soon bring a smile to your colleague's faces.
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Oh, one does love to go outdoors. The Queen is renowned for her adoration of horses and always dresses for the occasion. Her go-to outfit? Her Majesty often teams a waistcoat and waterproof with a co-ordinating headscarf and wellies.
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XCVI. The Queen has been reigning the style stakes for a grand 96 years. Impressive.
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The Queen is undoubtedly able to pull of any hue but our favourite? It has to be yellow. The sunny shade is a failsafe and the Queen has been donning the look long before any of us declared it the colour of the season.
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Zip up. Each of the Queen's outfits is fitted with a zip in preparation for endless outfit changes.