Prince William’s in Rio de Janeiro right now – but he’s not there for the hot, sunny beaches. The Prince of Wales has touched down in Brazil for this year’s Earthshot Prize, his environmental awards ceremony where he’s meeting Indigenous leaders, spotlighting conservation work, and reminding the world that, yes, we need to be a little kinder to it.
While out and about in Guanabara Bay just southeast of the country, William was spotted in a pair of Wayfarer-ish sunglasses from Finlay – the independent eyewear label that’s quietly become a favourite of the Royal Family.
It isn’t exactly the kinda brand that shouts for attention. It’s not Hollywood cult label Jacques Marie Mage, or Matsuda or Tom Ford. It’s not trying to be either. Founded in London in 2012 by a bunch of mates, the British brand makes simple, sharp, properly well-made frames – the kind that look just as good on a future king as they do on the guy opposite you on the train.
Yesterday, William wore the ‘Marshall’ silhouette. Inspired by old school shades from the ’60s, he went for the slightly see-through ‘Smoke’ version with greyed-out lenses. His brother, Prince Harry, owns the exact same pair in the exact same shade. Catherine, Princess of Wales, loves the ‘Henrietta’ and ‘Vivian’ models, while Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is a big fan of the ‘Percy’ – when she wore them to the Invictus Games back in 2017, she apparently crashed the website.
So, why the royal obsession? Well, Finlay fits the family’s preferred formula: British-designed, quietly polished, and just luxe enough without being mega flashy. It’s the same reason they lean on brands like Barbour, Gieves & Hawkes, and Mulberry – labels that signal taste without shouting about it.
Of course, there are outliers: Princess Anne, accidental rave queen, famously sticks to her wraparound Oakleys. But even that says something – practicality always comes first when you’re riding horses in horizontal rain. Whether it’s an eco-summit in Brazil or a horse show in Gloucestershire, the Windsors’ wardrobes are built on subtlety – and said brand of subtlety blows up when the world’s media hones in.
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