Why does Meghan Markle always lean towards the polo? The Duchess is known for choosing impractical stilettos for sporting events (but it’s all to do with getting her photo ops with Prince Harry)

Meghan Markle stole the show in Miami over the weekend as she cheered on husband Prince Harry as he played in a charity polo match in Florida to benefit Sentebale.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, looked ethereal as she strolled along the field in an $812 (£650) white flowy ball gown by Californian designer Heidi Merrick, paired with a £2,650 Maison Valentino bag – but her choice of footwear sparked discussion among royal fans.

Meghan’s elegant outfit was completed with a pair of £565 pairs of ‘Purist 105’ Nude Nappa Leather Pumps from one of her favorite brands, Aquazzura. However, some pointed out that wearing stilettos in a field might not be the most practical shoe choice.

While some people expressed concern that she would have struggled to walk in the towering stilettos as a picture showed the Duchess being helped up the stairs, others suggested she would struggle to take part in the half-time ritual of stepping in the divots on the track caused by the horses’ hooves.

It’s not the only sporting event where Meghan has dared to brave the high heels – as she’s been spotted in stilettos on rugby pitches, basketball courts and running tracks – but a celebrity photographer previously revealed she has a very good reason for doing so. .

Glenn Gratton previously told FEMAIL that Meghan’s choice of footwear is likely due to her appearing at such sporting events alongside Prince Harry, who is considerably taller than his wife.

While Meghan stands at a modest 5ft 6in, Harry’s height is a towering 6ft 1in, meaning there is a noticeable height difference between the pair.

Gratton said: ‘Couples with a large height difference look a bit unbalanced in photos and often the smaller of the two ends up looking even smaller and constantly looking up at their partner.

The Duchess has previously favored stilettos on sports courts (pictured at a Santa Barbara polo match in 2022)

Meghan also opts for high heels to attend indoor sporting events – pictured in Australia at wheelchair basketball in 2018

‘Rod Stewart and his wife Penny have a big gap, but this is minimized by Rod wearing Cuban heels and Penny not wearing super high heels.

“In the case of Harry and Meghan, she will be wearing high heels to maximize her height and shorten the distance if possible.”

Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate is known to wear sneakers or loafers when participating in sporting activities, but the Duchess is taller than the average British woman.

Kate stands at around 5ft 10in, while William is 6ft 2in, which means she can comfortably wear heels without being taller or sporting flats and not feeling like there’s a gaping mismatch.

Although Meghan has chosen to wear flats for some sporting appearances – such as some events during last year’s Invictus Games in Frankfurt – she tends to prefer high heels.

The Duchess wore very high stilettos when she presented medals to the winning USA wheelchair basketball team at the Invictus Games in Frankfurt last year

In 2022, watching Harry play in a polo match in Santa Barbara, Meghan channeled Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman with a stunning polka dot blouse and white shorts – finishing the outfit perfectly with another pair of Aquazzura heels.

Consistent with Gratton’s analysis, Meghan and Harry’s height difference was significantly reduced when she took his hand and they walked down the aisle together.

The Duchess also opted for stilettos during last year’s Invictus Games in Frankfurt as she extended her height during some of the events, including wheelchair basketball.

Presenting medals to the winning team, USA, she wore a smart all-black outfit with skinny jeans, a knitted vest and stiletto court shoes.

After noting her choice of heels again this weekend to watch the polo at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, some fans noted the impracticality of Meghan’s chic outfit.

One person wrote: ‘I’ve been to polo matches there, it’s a real problem in the heels, especially at half time when the crowd stomps on the pitch.

“But classic Meghan pulls it off.”

Another expressed concern that Meghan’s heels could be ruined by the controversy.

They wrote: ‘At a polo match during the interval between the chukkas, it is the spectators’ job to stomp down on their hooves on the pitch made of the horses’ hooves.

‘Good luck with those heels Meghan.’

During her time in Britain as a working royal, the Duchess also showed loyalty to the chic stiletto.

When she took part in the UK Team Trials for the Invictus Games at Bath University in April 2018, she wore a pair of stiletto boots, even though it involved traversing the running track and grass field.

And for her first Buckingham Palace Garden party just days after her wedding to Harry, she teamed her nude dress with another sharp stiletto, although a shorter block heel might have been more comfortable walking on the grass.