Woman who set up stylish shoe company beloved by A-listers receives King’s Award for Enterprise (and Camilla has at least 11 pairs of her heels!)

Royal favourite Lisa Kay saw her Sole Bliss brand go stratospheric after Queen Camilla began ordering her stylish but secretly comfortable shoes.

They are now regularly worn on the red carpet by Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Dame Helen Mirren.

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

Lisa, 61, from Watford, Herts, set up her own business in 2017, following a 30 year career designing shoes, to cater for women with bunions, wide feet or other podiatry issues who still want to wear fashionable footwear, including heels.

Starting with just four lines, the firm has now taken off globally: boasting 300 designs and shipping worldwide, the business is now worth an estimated £10 million. 

Encouragingly, most sales come via word of mouth from satisfied customers – and have even benefited from little royal endorsement.

Queen Camilla was first spotted in a pair of Lisa’s heels in 2018 – much to the designer’s shock – and now owns at least 11 pairs, having been photographed in them on more than 80 occasions.

Her first – and favourite – are the £169 nude leather Ingrid heels she wore to the Royal Cornwall Show, with her entire collection now said to be worth more than £2,000.

‘It was a complete surprise to me. An order came in from Clarence House which needed clearance. It was a hugely exciting moment and I felt very proud,’ Lisa said. 

‘The Queen likes to look smart but feel comfortable. It’s the ultimate seal of approval.’ 

Her designs have now been adopted by stars including Hollywood legends Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep, as well as fellow actresses Dame Helen Mirren, Viola Davis, Rebel Wilson, Olivia Colman, Twiggy and Jane Seymour.

Explaining her inspiration, Lisa said: ‘I started growing a little bunion on my left foot and realised that shoes cut in a certain way were more popular with women who had similar issues. It’s something that affects more women than you might think.

‘We have developed a special tech inside the shoes to comfort and contour your feet in flats or heels, without losing style.

‘We work with a podiatry professor whose attitude is that people will wear what they want to wear, regardless of whether they are good for them or not. So she is happy to recommend us because of our special design.

‘Once people are happy with our shoes they generally become ambassadors for us and tell their friends. We benefit from word of mouth and have a lot of happy customers. Even royalty now.’

Despite her success, Lisa says she was ‘shocked and thrilled’ to be awarded one of just 197 King’s Awards for Enterprise in 2025 – and be invited to meet the King and other senior royals at Windsor Castle tonight.

The award, first instituted by royal warrant by Queen Elizabeth in 1965, is for outstanding achievement in business and is considered the most prestigious honour of its kind in the UK.

Other recipients this year include soft toy firm Jellycat and Deluxe Art and Theme Ltd, a fit-out contractor producing story led interiors which has completed work on Jurassic park, Disneyland Paris, and Universal Orlando’s new Harry Potter theme park.

‘To receive this recognition from the very institution whose members have been wearing our shoes feels like the perfect validation.’ Lisa says.

‘We’ve proven that British innovation and craftsmanship can solve real problems while competing with luxury brands worldwide.’

And yes, she naturally wore a pair of her own designs – the Ruby – to meet the King. 

‘They are one of our highest designs, but so comfortable,’ she smiles proudly.