Meghan Markle's Favorite Shoe Designer Appoints Royal Brand Ambassador

Meghan Markle's favorite shoe brand famous for their towering high heels has appointed a royal brand ambassador—though the candidate may not be the expected choice.

Aquazzura, most known for a style of "bow tie" embellished shoe owned by Meghan in multiple heel heights and color-ways, announced in July the appointment of Princess Olympia of Greece and Denmark as a brand ambassador, saying that she "perfectly embodies the new generation of Aquazzura girls."

Olympia is a relation of Prince Harry's through both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who are cousins of the Greek royal family through Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra. The socialite princess is the daughter of the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece, who live between New York and Great Britain.

Aquazzura became the subject of media discussion this month after biographer Tom Bower made claims in his book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors that the duchess failed to return a pair of the brand's shoes to a fashion photoshoot she was working on before her marriage.

Shortly after this account was published in a book extract by U.K. broadsheet newspaper The Times, Meghan appeared in public for dinner with Harry in New York defiantly wearing a pair of Aquazzura black "bow tie" heeled sandals.

Representatives for the Sussexes have not commented on the book or its claims.

In a press release announcing Olympia as brand ambassador, Aquazzura described the royal as "an absolute contemporary beauty."

"Olympia is the perfect epitome of the values of refined elegance and freshness that Edgardo Osorio infuses into all his creations."

Osorio founded Florence-based Aquazzura in 2012, combining luxury craftsmanship with rich embellishments and a complex color palette. The designer is set to collaborate with Olympia on a number of shoes for the label's resort 2023 collection.

He is quoted on the appointment as saying: "I'm thrilled to be working with Olympia, not only is she a friend but also perfectly embodies the new generation of Aquazzura girls. She has an effortless elegance; she is fun and has a strong personality. For the Fall we are working together to create the perfect party shoes to dance the night away."

The princess responded in the brand's press release announcing her appointment that she was "absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Aquazzura.

"It has been a dream of mine to design shoes and I could not think of a better partner to step into the industry with."

The Greek princess and Meghan are not the only royal fans of the brand's famous heels, with Queen Rania of Jordan and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands also wearing styles during public engagements.

Perhaps the most notable British royal client is future queen, Kate Middleton.

Kate has worn Aquazzura heels to a number of public events since 2021, including during her polarizing royal tour of the Caribbean in March and to the Garter Day ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor in June. Outings in the label often provoke comparison between the royal with her sister-in-law Meghan.

This is encouraged, in part, due to the fact that Kate appears to share the same taste in footwear as the duchess.

Like Meghan, Kate owns a pair of the "bow tie" high heeled pump designs in pink suede which were worn to a G7 reception last summer. The duchess' choice of the brand's "Love Link" heels in June are also similar in style to a pair worn by Meghan to a 2018 commemorative concert in London.

Newsweek approached Aquazzura for comment.

Uncommon Knowledge

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