On a sunny day in April 2014, Princess Kate was glowing as she and Prince William took to the high seas for a day of sailing across Waitematā Harbour in New Zealand. While the princess showed off her nautical theme dressing for the event wearing a striped Breton top from ME+EM, it was her eyewear that intrigued royal watchers. For the aqua adventure, Kate donned tortoise Ray-Ban Wayfarer folding sunglasses — this marked the first time the princess was spotted on royal duty in a pair of Ray Bans.
Over the next decade, Kate would be seen in a total of four pairs of luxury sunglasses from the beloved brand formerly owned by Bausch & Lomb. Known for their stylish Aviators, cool Clubmasters and sleek Wayfarers, the brand is beloved by Hollywood trendsetters and famous faces like Olivia Wilde, Beyonce and Kim Kardashian. Even Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton was recently spotted in a pair of Ray Ban round double bridge sunglasses on vacation in St. Barths in February 2024.
Still, it’s the princess who has made Ray Ban sunnies a coveted brand of eyeglasses; over the years she’s worn folding pairs, square lens styles and gradient frames.
Here are 4 of Kate Middleton’s Favorite Pairs of Ray Ban Sunglasses:
1. Ray-Ban New Wayfarer Classic Sunglasses in Black
With polished polarized lenses, these smart sunglasses have plastic frames and glass lenses. An updated version of the brand’s iconic Wayfarer, these shades look good on all face shapes as they boast smaller frames and a softer profile. The reduced silhouette size makes these glasses perfect for travel and the logo hardware at the temples adds a hint of glam. Kate wore these glasses in Belize in March 2022.
2. Ray Ban Chris Sunglasses in Tortoise RB4187
A stylish addition to the brand’s Highstreet collection, these sunnies have 54mm square lenses in brown gradient, metal arms, a gummy and rubberized frame finish and a high bridge fit with a keyhole design. The lenses are prescription ready and the sunglasses come with their own case. Kate first appeared in the glasses for Wimbledon in July 2018 and most recently in Belize in March 2022 (she has worn them a total of eight times in public).
3. Ray-Bay Wayfarer II Classic Tortoise Sunglasses
Sported by the princess a total of four times, Kate first appeared in these tortoise glasses for Wimbledon in July 2019. She’s worn the RB2185 Wayfarer II Classic with brown polarized lenses for Wimbledon and a charity polo match alongside the Duchess of Sussex in July 2019. 
4. Ray Ban Folding Wayfarer Sunglasses
A polished light Havana frame gives these sunglasses plenty of personality; Kate has donned the square shaped sunglasses modeled from the Original Wayfarer Classic on over a dozen occasions in public and private. Notably, she wore the compact and portable glasses in India, New Zealand and a trip to Canada in the fall of 2016.
