Woman who arrange fashionable shoe corporate liked by way of A-listers receives King’s Award for Enterprise (and Camilla has no less than 11 pairs of her heels!)

King Charles chatted animatedly about girls top heels as he hosted a reception for British trade good fortune tales at Windsor Castle this night.

Royal favorite Lisa Kay noticed her Sole Bliss logo pass stratospheric after Queen Camilla started ordering her fashionable however secretly relaxed footwear.

They at the moment are incessantly worn at the pink carpet by way of Hollywood stars together with Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Dame Helen Mirren.

And to cap all of it, she has been given a King’s Award for Enterprise.

Lisa, 61, from Watford, Herts, arrange her personal industry in 2017, following a 30 12 months profession designing footwear, to cater for ladies with bunions, extensive toes or different podiatry problems who nonetheless wish to put on stylish shoes, together with heels.

She is one in every of 197 winners this 12 months of the King’s Award for Enterprise, the perfect accolade for British companies.

Introducing herself to the king as anyone ‘who makes ladies shoes’, she added: ‘Her Majesty buys them.’

The King brightened in an instant and stated knowledgeably: ‘She likes a heel that is not too narrow.’

‘Yes a block heel,’ stated Ms Kay.

‘Yes, yes a block heel,’ Charles smiled.

He added: ‘It gets a bit harder to walk in heels as you get older.’

Afterwards Ms Kay stated: ‘It was such an honour to meet the King and to receive this award in his name. He seemed surprisingly knowledgeable, but shoes are important especially for someone like Her Majesty who is on her feet all day and needs to look smart but comfortable.’

Starting with simply 4 traces, the company has now taken off globally: boasting 300 designs and delivery international, the industry is now value an estimated £10 million. 

Encouragingly, maximum gross sales come by the use of phrase of mouth from happy consumers – and feature even benefited from little royal endorsement.

Queen Camilla was once first noticed in a couple of Lisa’s heels in 2018 – a lot to the clothier’s surprise – and now owns no less than 11 pairs, having been photographed in them on greater than 80 events.

Her first – and favorite – are the £169 nude leather-based Ingrid heels she wore to the Royal Cornwall Show, along with her whole assortment now stated to be value greater than £2,000.

Lisa, 61, from Watford, Herts, arrange her personal industry in 2017, following a 30 12 months profession designing footwear, to cater for ladies with bunions, extensive toes or different podiatry problems who nonetheless wish to put on stylish shoes, together with heels

Camilla was once one in every of Lisa Kay’s first consumers. Pictured: Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, dressed in the footwear at Sandringham Flower Show in 2018

King Charles pictured chatting with visitors all the way through a reception for award recipients at Windsor Castle this night time

‘It was once an entire marvel to me. An order got here in from Clarence House which wanted clearance. It was once a massively thrilling second and I felt very proud,’ Lisa stated. 

‘The Queen likes to seem good however really feel relaxed. It’s without equal seal of approval.’ 

Her designs have now been followed by way of stars together with Hollywood legends Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, in addition to fellow actresses Dame Helen Mirren, Viola Davis, Rebel Wilson, Olivia Colman, Twiggy and Jane Seymour.

Explaining her inspiration, Lisa stated: ‘I began rising somewhat bunion on my left foot and realised that footwear reduce in a undeniable means had been extra well-liked by girls who had identical problems. It’s one thing that is affecting extra girls than chances are you’ll suppose.

‘We have evolved a different tech within the footwear to convenience and contour your toes in residences or heels, with out dropping taste.

‘We paintings with a podiatry professor whose perspective is that folks will put on what they wish to put on, without reference to whether or not they’re just right for them or no longer. So she is excited to suggest us on account of our particular design.

‘Once persons are pleased with our footwear they most often change into ambassadors for us and inform their pals. We take pleasure in phrase of mouth and feature a large number of glad consumers. Even royalty now.’

Despite her good fortune, Lisa says she was once ‘stunned and overjoyed’ to be awarded one in every of simply 197 King’s Awards for Enterprise in 2025 – and be invited to satisfy the King and different senior royals at Windsor Castle this night.

Despite her good fortune, Lisa says she was once ‘stunned and overjoyed’ to be awarded one in every of simply 197 King’s Awards for Enterprise in 2025 – and be invited to satisfy the King and different senior royals at Windsor Castle this night

The award, first instituted by way of royal warrant by way of Queen Elizabeth in 1965, is for remarkable success in industry and is regarded as probably the most prestigious honour of its sort in the United Kingdom.

‘To obtain this popularity from the very establishment whose contributors had been dressed in our footwear looks like the easiest validation.’ Lisa says.

‘We’ve confirmed that British innovation and craftsmanship can remedy actual issues whilst competing with luxurious manufacturers international.’

And sure, she naturally wore a couple of her personal designs – the Ruby – to satisfy the King. 

‘They are one in every of our perfect designs, however so relaxed,’ she smiles proudly. 

Other recipients this 12 months come with comfortable toy company Jellycat and Deluxe Art and Theme Ltd, a fit-out contractor generating tale led interiors which has finished paintings on Jurassic park, Disneyland Paris, and Universal Orlando’s new Harry Potter theme park.  

Another British good fortune tale provide was once comfortable toy sensation Jellycat, which was once shaped in 1999 and in 2023 loved a income of £200 million.

Director Jack Gatacre described assembly the King as ‘brilliant’ and stated it was once ‘wonderful and humbling’ that the general public loved their toys such a lot. Even the King’s grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are recognized to be enthusiasts.

‘Tonight has been such a delight and it’s a beautiful honour,’ Mr Gatacre stated.

Instituted by way of Queen Elizabeth in 1965, the awards as probably the most prestigious industry awards in the United Kingdom.

At the hour-long reception – which ran over by way of some other part an hour – the King met winners from around the nation who’re main their fields in innovation, global industry, sustainable building and selling alternative thru social mobility.

It is the 59th 12 months of the awards and winners can use its logo for 5 years on their merchandise and it advertise their products and services.

His Majesty was once informed that it equipped a ‘massive boost’ for companies, specifically in markets just like the United States. One visitor informed him: ‘It was a shot in the arm.’