Queen Letizia stuck to royal tradition as far as her shoe choice went in Chengdu, China, on Tuesday. As she attended a cultural event honoring Spanish poet Antonio Machado at the memorial to Chinese poet Xue Tao in Wangjianglou Park, the Spanish queen paired a pink tweed ensemble with black leather kitten heels detailed by a rectangular buckle — a structured, walkable silhouette favored by many royals.

The shape stayed classic: pointed toe, slim mid-heel and a low front. Across the vamp, a rectangular buckle sat almost flush, blending into the smooth black leather of the kitten heel shoe.

Her tweed suit followed the same measured logic, albeit with a modern touch of color and detailing. She later added a black coat for the outdoor portion of the ceremony, keeping accessories limited to Carolina Herrera’s Victoria Insignia satchel and gem-drop earrings in mixed stones.

The buckle-kitten profile is a familiar one across both heritage and contemporary lines. Labels like Roger Vivier and Manolo Blahnik continue to define the style through their Belle Vivier and Maysale series, while Spanish brand Bibi Lou offers similar pointed-toe iterations. Within Letizia’s rotation, the appearance extends her pattern of understated, low-heeled formality — from the burgundy kitten heels worn at Madrid’s Innovation and Design Awards last week to the black slingbacks that matched Princess Sofía at Spain’s National Day.

The same shape has appeared across European royal wardrobes this year, from Queen Camilla’s beige buckle kitten heels during summer engagements to Kate Middleton’s beloved suede loafers featuring a smaller buckle detail. In Chengdu, Letizia’s version kept the focus on proportion — a measured heel and defined toe that translate easily between diplomacy and daywear.