Prince Charles was at his most gentlemanly as he welcomed Spain’s Queen Letizia to a joint engagement on Tuesday, but the European royal still managed to steal the spotlight.
Arriving at Auckland Castle in Country Durham, in England’s North East, the queen rugged up in a trendy oversized black coat as Charles kissed her cheeks, then her hand in greeting.
But it was the outfit she had hidden underneath that really wowed fans; a tailored red dress with long sleeves and button details at the shoulder, which she paired with a matching patent leather clutch and pumps.
Prince Charles greeted Queen Letizia with a kiss…
(Image: Getty)In her 18 years as a Spanish royal, Letizia has crafted an enviable wardrobe where red is very much her signature colour.
Over the years she’s donned sparkling red evening gowns, fashion-forward vermillion frocks and even a few crimson pant suits and jumpsuits – just to name a few.
Now she’s brough the colour to the UK, where she subtly stole the show from Charles as they visited the Francisco de Zurbaran art collection without their respective spouses.
…but her style stole the show.
(Image: Getty)Letizia, 49, and her husband King Felipe VI of Spain touched down in England last week to attend the royal memorial service honouring Prince Philip’s life almost one year after his death.
The couple were among a number of high-profile royal guests at the Service of Thanksgiving, including Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands.\
Letizia wore green for the sombre occasion, as did several members of the British royal family, choosing the colour as a subtle way to pay tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh.
WATCH: Prince Charlotte’s cute moments caught on camera at Prince Philip’s memorial. Story continues after video.
Queen Elizabeth, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Anne all wore elegant dark green hues in memory of Philip, whose livery colour was Edinburgh Green.
The symbolic colour was used for the late Prince’s staff liveries and private cars, including the driving carriage used for his funeral in April 2021.
But Letizia was back in red days later for her joint engagement with Charles and fans couldn’t have been more delighted to see her in her signature hue.
Keep scrolling to see some of Letizia’s best red style moments through the years.
In 2017 Letizia donned this off-the-shoulder beaded red gown for a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II in London.
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In 2010 the queen stepped out in this divine strapless gown for Princess Victoria of Sweden’s pre-wedding ceremony.
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In fact, Letizia has been wearing red since the start of her royal tenure, donning this crimson gown for Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Mary Donaldson’s wedding in 2004.
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She chose a red coat for an outing with her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia, months after she married into the Spanish royal family in 2004.
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While in Paris in 2015, Letizia chose this Nina Ricci set to visit the French National Assembly.
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These days the royal can be found mixing print and texture in her all-red ensembles like this one, which includes divine stiletto boots.
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And she’s not afraid to try more tailored looks either, recently sporitng this chic vermillion pants suit.
(Image: Getty)
