Why Kate Middleton Keeps Rewearing Her Ralph Lauren “Celia” Pumps—And Where to Buy Them in 2026

Kate Middleton marked the publication of Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in London on May 6, 2021, meeting photographers whose work was selected for the project documenting life across the United Kingdom.

For the visit, the Princess of Wales paired an Eponine coat dress with a pleated Zara skirt, coordinating brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps, and a matching handbag to soften the bold red palette.

Kate Middleton tours the National Portrait Gallery during the launch of Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation, pairing her scarlet Eponine coat dress with brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps, a Demellier Nano Montreal bag, and a pleated Zara skirt peeking beneath the hem (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Kate wore an Eponine wool coat dress from the label’s Autumn/Winter 2018 collection over a pleated Zara midi skirt.

The pairing combined the clean lines of tailored outerwear with the fluid movement of the skirt, a styling approach she has returned to repeatedly for gallery visits, exhibitions, and daytime royal engagements.

Kate Middleton elevates her vibrant Eponine red wool coat dress with a flowing Zara pleated midi skirt, brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps, and a coordinating Demellier Nano Montreal bag during the Hold Still launch at the National Portrait Gallery (Credit: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon / WENN)

Kate finished the ensemble with Mappin & Webb Empress drop earrings, her sapphire engagement ring, and a Demellier Nano Montreal satchel.

Her signature softly curled hairstyle complemented the understated accessories without competing with the bold outerwear.

Kate Middleton wears her signature bouncy curls and styles her look with Mappin & Webb drop earrings (Credit: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon / WENN)

Rather than opting for tonal red footwear, Kate chose brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps, matching them to her Demellier bag. The pointed-toe silhouette and slim heel introduced contrast while maintaining the outfit’s restrained elegance.

Kate has continued to return to the Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps in the years since the Hold Still launch, making the style one of the more frequently repeated shoes in her wardrobe. The brown “RL Gold” colorway has accompanied dresses, tailoring, and occasionwear alike, underscoring her preference for versatile neutral pumps that can soften brighter palettes while remaining polished enough for formal engagements.

The outfit also reflects a styling formula closely associated with the Princess of Wales: pairing investment pieces with accessible fashion. Her Eponine coat dress and Ralph Lauren pumps brought structure and longevity to the ensemble, while the pleated Zara skirt introduced movement and an attainable element, demonstrating the mix of high-end and high-street labels that has long defined her daytime wardrobe.

A closer look at Kate Middleton’s brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps reveals the pointed-toe silhouette and slender stiletto heel that provided a sophisticated counterpoint to her vibrant Eponine coat dress (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Crafted in Italy from full-grain calfskin leather, the Celia pumps feature a pointed toe, a cushioned leather insole, and heels measuring approximately four inches. Finished with an aniline-dyed treatment that enhances the leather’s natural texture, the design reflects the streamlined pump silhouettes that have become a recurring feature of Kate’s wardrobe.

While the original brown “RL Gold” version worn for the Hold Still launch is now difficult to source, the Celia remains part of Ralph Lauren Collection’s lineup.

As of June 2026, Farfetch carries several iterations of the style, including the 100mm Celia pumps ($783), 95mm Celia pointed-toe stiletto pumps ($819), and Celia pointed-toe pumps ($1,069).

More accessible alternatives from Lauren Ralph Lauren include the Lanette pumps, Adrienne pumps, and classic pointed-toe slingback styles, all of which echo the refined aesthetic that has made the Celia one of the Princess of Wales’ most dependable footwear choices.

The Celia pumps are aniline-dyed to amplify the full-grain calfskin leather’s natural texture

The Hold Still project began as a nationwide invitation for people to share photographs documenting everyday experiences during the pandemic.

More than 31,000 images were submitted, with 100 selected for inclusion in the publication produced in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. The featured portraits later became part of the gallery’s permanent collection.

Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton asked the public a year ago to submit images that chronicled life during lockdown (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

As part of the book launch, The Duchess of Cambridge hosted a treasure hunt in partnership with The Book Fairies, an organization whose network of people leaves books in public places for others to find.

A video of Kate hiding 150 copies of Hold Still in secret places around the UK was posted on the royal’s Instagram account.

The launch also highlighted Kate’s growing involvement in photography and publishing initiatives. Hold Still debuted at the top of the UK bestseller charts, becoming her first book to reach number one on release day.

In 2014, Kate penned the foreword for the book Living in the Slipstream: Life as an RAF Wife, which is a collection of more than 100 personal stories by wives of Royal Air Force servicemen.

Kate Middleton’s Ralph Lauren Pumps Show the Staying Power of a Classic Royal Shoe

From the red Eponine coat dress to the brown Ralph Lauren “Celia” pumps, this Hold Still look captures one of Kate Middleton’s most reliable style formulas: tailored outerwear, a softly moving skirt, and polished neutral heels that balance the entire outfit.

Her continued return to similar pointed-toe pumps shows why the silhouette remains central to her public wardrobe—refined, versatile, and easy to rewear across seasons, ceremonies, and daytime engagements.