Prince William’s surprising shoe choice at Top Gun: Maverick premiere a sweet double tribute
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the recent premiere in London and he opted for some rather meaningful loafers…
Prince William’s surprising shoe choice at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere contained a sweet double tribute that eagle-eyed fans might’ve spotted.
- The Duke of Cambridge wore shoes decorated with planes as he and the Duchess attended the London premiere for the new Top Gun Movie.
- The aviation theme of Prince William’s shoes could be seen not only as a nod to the movie but to his late grandfather.
- This royal news comes as the Queen made an historic change across the UK in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee.
Having served in the RAF, flying enthusiast Prince William was likely delighted to attend the Top Gun: Maverick movie premiere in London on May 19th. Stepping out alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen’s grandchild opted for a sumptuous velvet jacket complete with matching tie and paired with smart black trousers.
And whilst his look might not have attracted the level of attention we’ve frequently seen with Kate Middleton’s dresses, for eagle-eyed fans it’s clear that he is all about the attention-to-detail just like her.
Prince William wore black velvet slip-on loafer reportedly from Crockett & Jones and they were given an extra special touch with a design of two aeroplanes. Whilst not confirmed, it’s believed that the particular plane was an F-18.
This could be seen as a very sweet nod to the Top Gun: Maverick film, whose main character is Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell - one of the Navy’s top aviators - and F-18 fighter jets are said to feature.
In light of this, Prince William’s surprising shoe choice makes a lot more sense and is a lovely tribute and indication of his admiration for the movie. Though it’s not the only tribute that could be spotted in the Duke’s jet-decorated loafers. Other members of the extended Royal Family have also flown planes and perhaps one of the most prominent of these was the late Prince Philip.
The Queen and Prince Philip were married for 73 years and in a post shared on social media following his sad passing in April 2021, the royals reflected on his passion for aviation.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
The Duke learned to fly with @RoyalAirForce at White Waltham and gained his RAF Wings in 1953, his helicopter wings with the Royal Navy in 1956, and his Private Pilots Licence in 1959. He gave up flying in 1997 after accumulating 5,986 hours as a pilot in 59 types of aircraft. pic.twitter.com/WbPvjhGsRSApril 15, 2021
“The Duke learned to fly with @RoyalAirForce at White Waltham and gained his RAF Wings in 1953, his helicopter wings with the Royal Navy in 1956, and his Private Pilots Licence in 1959,” they explained. “He gave up flying in 1997 after accumulating 5,986 hours as a pilot in 59 types of aircraft.”
Whilst it wasn’t revealed exactly what all of these 59 types were, it’s clear that Prince Philip has a real love for flying and for aircrafts of all descriptions. For his funeral service the Duke even chose to have his RAF Wings displayed at St George’s Chapel.
Prince William’s surprising shoe choice could therefore be viewed not just as a tribute to the film and his own experience flying planes, albeit in the RAF and not the Royal Navy like Maverick, but to his late grandfather who was himself an experienced flyer.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. She specialises in the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the latest royal outing or unmissable show to add to your to-watch list, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
How to watch Married At First Sight Australia 2025 from the UK and USA
If you don't want to miss a moment of the action from MAFS Australia, here's how to watch it where you are
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Thanks to Heidi Klum I'm now convinced by the luxe winter boot trend dominating cold-weather cities
Move over UGG boots, there's a new cosy boot style on the scene
By Molly Smith Published
-
All the times the royals wore denim with aplomb, from Meghan Markle to Princess Diana
Looking for a fresh way to style your jeans? Here are the times the royals wore denim and nailed laidback chic...
By Lauren Clark Published
-
Prince William’s ‘wish’ for Princess Charlotte and Louis as George follows in his footsteps
The Prince of Wales enjoyed a special visit in Birmingham and reportedly shared a surprising wish for his younger children
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton's update on her cancer recovery in first personal message of 2025
The Princess of Wales shared a special message praising The Royal Marsden for their care and included a new update on her recovery
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton attends poignant first engagement of 2025 at hospital where she underwent cancer treatment
The Princess of Wales spoke of her 'quiet, private visits' during her treatment and wanted to express gratitude and raise awareness
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton looks radiant in laid-back jeans, shirt and blazer in momentous birthday photograph
The Princess of Wales's off-duty style is every bit as elegant as her formal-wear and her birthday photo outfit is so easy to recreate
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s 43rd birthday marked with heartfelt message from Prince William alongside new black-and-white photo
Prince William lovingly paid tribute to the Princess of Wales's 'remarkable' strength as he shared a touching birthday post
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton 'needs to make sure' George, Charlotte and Louis can 'deal' with 'looming' responsibility
A huge future lies ahead for the Wales family and a royal expert believes the Princess of Wales will be keen to 'prioritise' her family
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Meghan Markle embraces Kate Middleton’s royal hobby in new Netflix trailer - and you might not have noticed
Meghan Markle's new Netflix series will show her trying out one of the Royal Family's favourite but rarely-seen hobbies
By Emma Shacklock Published