Princess Kate visited the new V&A East Storehouse in East London today, choosing to wear stiletto heels despite the museum's explicit recommendation for flat footwear.
The museum's website advises visitors to wear "practical clothing and flat shoes" as "the metal grid flooring is not suitable for stilettos or kitten heels."
Kate arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venue dressed in a royal blue suit paired with £650 sleek black Gianvito Rossi heels. The visit marked her first public royal engagement since returning from the half-term break with her three children.
V&A director Tristram Hunt praised the Princess's confident navigation of the visit, telling People magazine: "She is a pro! She dealt with that!"
Princess Kate wears £650 stilettos to museum despite official footwear warning.
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Hunt described Kate's performance during the engagement in glowing terms. "She was really really focused on the objects, it is really impressive," he said.
The director noted that Kate displayed "super energy" throughout the visit. "She was very energetic and focused. We last saw her about two years ago," Hunt added.
He also highlighted the Princess's enduring passion for the arts. "She retains this great passion and interest in creativity and making, and design. It was wonderful to be able to host her."
The V&A East Storehouse opened to the public just two weeks ago, offering unprecedented access to over 600,000 objects from the V&A's collections.
Princess Kate wore stiletto heels despite the museum's advice.
Reuters
The new museum allows visitors to observe behind-the-scenes work and get closer to the stored items than ever before.
Despite the challenging metal grid flooring, Kate navigated the space by holding onto glass railings as she walked through the museum.
The Princess, who graduated from the University of St Andrews with an art history degree in 2005, maintained her composure throughout the visit whilst wearing her signature stilettos.
This wasn't the first time Kate's heel choice has caused complications during royal engagements.
Princess Kate paired the heels with a suave McQueen suit.
PA
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Princess Kate is often photographed in heels.
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In 2018, whilst seven months pregnant, she got her black heel stuck in a metal drain during a visit to an addiction treatment centre in Wickford.
The Princess maintained her sense of humour, laughing as she freed her foot from the grate.
Kate has worn heels in various challenging situations, including on grass at Prince William's polo matches and even to a gym visit in Essex.
However, she acknowledged the practical benefits of flat shoes during a 2019 Scout headquarters visit, remarking whilst planting a tree: "Normally I have to do this in high heels, this is much easier!"
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