Meghan Markle sets sail in budget-friendly sneakers for the first time ever in a royal appearance

On Sunday, Duchess Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, attended an Invictus Games event. There the Duchess swapped her usual heels for something more practical.

While headed out on a boat to watch a sailing race in Sydney Harbour, Meghan was seen wearing white sneakers. This was the first time she’d worn sneakers for an official Royal appearance.

Duchess Meghan, 37, wore a French footwear brand called Veja. The $150 a pair shoe was, of course, an eco-conscious and friendly brand.

The brand's shoes are made from organic cotton, vegetable-tanned leather, and sustainably managed rubber. Meghan completed her look with a pair of black jeans, round sunglasses, and an Invictus Games waterproof jacket.

For more on this story go to our Twitter account @amomama_usa. Prince Harry, 34, followed her look by also keeping it casual.

He wore blue jeans, a pair of grey Adidas Gazelle sneakers, and his own Invictus Games waterproof jacket. During the day, Meghan had kept things formal with her favorite Aquazzura Deneuve Bow Pumps, a blazer by Californian brand L'agence, and a black turtleneck jumper by Australian company Wolford.

This wasn’t her first Royal appearance without heels. Last week in Sydney, she changed her suede designer Stuart Weitzman pumps for pointed-toe $145 flats by Rothy's.

The Royal couple is currently on a 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Sources have revealed that the Duchess will be pacing herself during the tour.

They stated:

“She wants to do everything, but Prince Harry is encouraging her to pace herself. We want to make sure she gets enough rest at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day.”

Reports said that the pregnant Duchess would fly to Fraser Island with her husband on Monday as planned. However, she wouldn’t undertake some of the engagements due to the uneven terrain.

The Veja brand uses cotton that comes from an organic farm in Brazil, where workers aren’t exposed to harmful pesticides which could poison their villages. The rubber is made by people in the Amazon who use traditional methods.

For their uppers, they use sustainable products like the skin of the tilapia fish and a leather-like material made from curdled milk.