King Charles' Surprising Remark To Shoemaker Will Earn Him Some Brownie Points With Camilla
While the road to being together was not easy for King Charles and Queen Camilla, they have proven that their love stands just as strong as when they first fell for each other in the '70s. The King has never shied away from appreciating his wife, while the Queen Consort has guided him in the public eye, standing by him in his cancer diagnosis. Reflecting on their deep bond, Lisa Kay, founder of a footwear company, recalled her conversation with Charles earlier this year. She revealed that the monarch was ‘relaxed and personable’ and paid great attention to what his wife liked to wear.
Kay is the founder of Sole Bliss, a footwear company that manufactures Camilla’s favorite heels. Speaking highly about the King, she told PEOPLE, "He genuinely seemed interested in our business and knew so much about the Queen’s preferences — it felt like chatting with any husband who pays attention to what his wife likes to wear." She revealed that Charles even shared his wife’s favorite style of heel, saying that "she likes a heel that’s not too narrow." When Kay responded with, "Yes, a block heel," the King agreed enthusiastically, saying, "Yes, a block heel!"
Kay’s company, Sole Bliss, was one of the 197 recipients of The King's Award for Enterprise this year. She has been supplying shoes to the Queen Consort since 2018. Joking about breaking royal protocol with Charles, she quipped, "I was absolutely tempted to offer the King a pair of our men's shoes right there and then! But I thought that might be pushing royal protocol a bit too far." The brand currently stocks a casual line of men's shoes, but is looking to expand the line to include smart, formal shoes. She continued, "Our men’s shoes were a huge success when we first launched them, and we’re very excited to see where this expansion goes."
Kay and Charles had met in Windsor Castle to celebrate being one of the recipients of The King’s Award, a high accolade for British businesses. As for Camilla’s favorite footwear brand, she currently owns 11 pairs of Sole Bliss shoes and has recommended the brand to her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, who owns their pair of platform sneakers. Her favorite shoe model is the Ingrid, a classic court shoe featuring an almond-shaped toe and a two-inch block heel. It has also been worn by A-listers like Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore and designed by Elizabeth Steward.
As for Charles and Camilla’s love, royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner shared that the Queen Consort has been 'a much stronger person' for the King, amid his cancer battle. He told The Mirror, "I want Charles to have his time, I get it, I think in a lot of ways, he is a very good King, I really do, and I think, where he’s come in his life now with Camilla by his side." He added, "When I look at Camilla nowadays, although she’s still vilified by women over 50, because they remember Diana, I think in a lot of ways, she’s actually taught Charles how to be human."