King Charles III dressed up for a visit to Southport, England, to engage with the local community in the wake of the July 29 attack that left three children murdered and 10 injured at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
In the aftermath of tragedy and unrest, the royal traveled to Southport to meet with the local community and emergency service workers in the area and engage with those affected by the attack at the Southport Town Hall.
The tragedy also sparked riots across the UK as right-wing conservatives spread rumors that a Muslim immigrant was responsible for the attack. A 17-year-old named Axel Rudakubana has since been arrested and charged for the crimes. According to the Associated Press, the monarch was scheduled to meet with the impacted families and speak to the children who were attacked.
For the somber occasion, the king was dressed in a gray suit and maroon Oxfords. The dark shoes were made from shiny leather and featured horizontal laces in addition to a low, block heel. They seemed to feature a subtle perforated detailing, placing them in the brogue subsection of the Oxfords.
The popular lace-up dress shoe has a rich history in England, where it was known to be worn on campus at the University of Oxford in the 1800s. The shoe has many possible origin stories, with one even relating to the royal family. Prince Albert is said to have worn lace-up boots to go hunting at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, an innovative footwear choice at the time.
In modern days, a range of brands including Dr. Martens, Allen Edmonds, Christian Louboutin and more offer men’s Oxfords in a variety of styles.
The day before visiting Southport, King Charles III was at Balmoral himself, where the family is known to take up a summer residence. Dressed in traditional Scottish garb, he engaged in official duties including an inspection of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. His classic kilt was paired with red knee socks and black leather brogues.
