Queen Camilla stuck to a tried-and-true favorite for day one of Royal Ascot 2025, arriving at Ascot Racecourse in her go-to Chanel cap-toe pumps — a pair that’s become nearly as synonymous with her public appearances as her signature pearls.
The beige-and-black heels — closed-back and modestly heeled — trace their origins to 1957, when Coco Chanel and shoemaker Raymond Massaro designed the now-iconic two-tone slingback. Engineered to flatter and endure, the original silhouette was crafted to lengthen the leg and disguise scuffs, with Massaro once noting that the shoe was intended to make packing “four pairs into a suitcase” a seamless feat. Camilla favors a full-coverage version with a kitten heel, a practical choice she’s worn everywhere from state dinners to dock visits.
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For the opening day of the royal racing event, the queen paired the pumps with a mint green coatdress featuring a subtle wrap-effect bodice, lapel collar and a matching belt. She topped off the look with a sculptural Philip Treacy hat, finished with soft white feathers and exaggerated height — a tonal nod to her 2024 Ascot ensemble, where she wore a similar, bluer color palette and neutral heels.
Her accessories followed suit. She wore her signature layered pearl necklace and drop earrings, with a standout touch: the 18.8-carat Cullinan V diamond heart brooch. Once part of Queen Mary’s Delhi Durbar parure and later redesigned as a brooch, it was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it to Prince Philip’s 99th birthday portrait, Princess Eugenie’s wedding and her 90th birthday celebrations. Camilla has since brought it out for other formal moments, including the 2022 South Africa state banquet and the 2023 Commonwealth Day service, along with last year’s first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace.
In the lead-up to Ascot, Camilla reached for the same Chanel pumps earlier this month on June 4 at Eden Dock in London
Held each June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, the five-day event pairs championship horse racing with a formal dress code and daily carriage processions. Senior royals typically attend the Royal Enclosure, where women are required to wear dresses and hats, and men appear in morning suits and top hats. Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, Royal Ascot remains one of the most tradition-bound events of the year for the royal family.
