Kate Middleton wears the same trusty £475 knee-highs boots she’s had for 17 YEARS

These boots are made for keeping! Kate Middleton wears the same trusty £475 knee-highs she’s had for 17 YEARS during a farm visit with Prince William

  • Duchess of Cambridge wore a pair of leather knee high Penelope Chilvers boots
  • Kate, 39, first sported them to the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in August 2004 
  • She visited Manor Farm near County Durham today, alongside Prince William

She’s famous for her love of recycling and the Duchess of Cambridge upheld her thrifty reputation today, during a visit to a farm with Prince William.

Kate, 39, donned a pair of £475 boots that she has owned for 17 years as she travelled up to Darlington to visit Manor Farm.

The Duchess cut a casual figure on the visit, opting to wear a £190 shooting jacket from Danish company Seeland with several of her favourite pieces, including a £195 cosy jumper from sustainable brand Troy London.

She also wore the pair of leather knee high Penelope Chilvers boots she has owned since before she joined the royal family.

Kate, 39, donned a pair of £475 boots that she has owned for 17 years as she travelled up to Darlington to visit Manor Farm today, pictured 

August, 2004: Kate was first spotted in the £475 brown boots at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in August 2004, pictured

August, 2004: Kate was first spotted in the £475 brown boots at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in August 2004, pictured

Kate was first seen sporting a pair of the distinctive brown long tassel boots at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in August 2004. 

The then Kate Middleton had just been thrust into the spotlight after news of her relationship with Prince William first emerged. The couple met as first-year students at St Andrews University.

The boots made another appearance exactly a year later as Kate attended the Gatcombe Festival of Eventing in Gloucestershire.

On that occasion she paired them with a pair of blue denim jeans, a green V-neck jumper and white shirt.

August, 2005: Just four years after meeting William as a first-year student at St Andrews and Kate was already in the spotlight. Pictured, in the Penelope Chilvers boots, denim jeans, shirt, jumper and jacket at the Gatcombe Festival, Gloucestershire 

August, 2005: Just four years after meeting William as a first-year student at St Andrews and Kate was already in the spotlight. Pictured, in the Penelope Chilvers boots, denim jeans, shirt, jumper and jacket at the Gatcombe Festival, Gloucestershire 

April, 2016: Posing at Bhutan's famous Tiger's Nest monastery, Kate beams  at William. On her feet are the Penelope Chilvers boots, which she wore on the three-hour hike to the beauty spot

April, 2016: Posing at Bhutan’s famous Tiger’s Nest monastery, Kate beams at William. On her feet are the Penelope Chilvers boots, which she wore on the three-hour hike to the beauty spot

She wore a brown jacket and carried a bag in a matching colour, topping off the look with a similarly coloured trilby.

As the Duchess of Cambridge found her feet in the royal family, the boots stayed in the cupboard – at least on public appearances.

They were next seen when Kate and William headed out for a three-hour trek in Bhutan.

Royal watchers noted how the duchess did well to finish the hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery despite wearing jeans, a blouse and a khaki-coloured vest. 

September 2016: The boots once again made the perfect choice when Kate and William braved the wind and rain on an outing during their royal tour of Canada in September

September 2016: The boots once again made the perfect choice when Kate and William braved the wind and rain on an outing during their royal tour of Canada in September

October, 2018: The Duchess of Cambridge sported the boots by Penelope Chilvers as she visited the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden at Paddington Recreation Ground in west London

October, 2018: The Duchess of Cambridge sported the boots by Penelope Chilvers as she visited the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden at Paddington Recreation Ground in west London

However her Penelope Chilvers classics were certainly comfortable enough and the royal strode ahead with her husband.  

The boots once again made the perfect choice later that year when Kate and William braved the wind and rain on an outing during their royal tour of Canada in September. 

Kate opted for the practical look as she and William braved the elements on the remote Canadian island community of Bella Bella. 

It’s not clear whether Kate has had the same boots in her wardrobe for well over a decade or she’s so fond of them that she bought a second pair.

Other Penelope Chilvers fans include Claudia Schiffer, Alexa Chung, Keira Knightley and Cate Blanchett.