Valentine's Day ready! When royal ladies rock red hot dresses

Everyone needs the perfect red dress in their wardrobe. Whether it's long or short, the red frock is the ultimate showpiece to wear!

We've taken a look through the archives to see the royals in their ravishing red numbers. From British royals like the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie and the Countess of Wessex, to foreign royals who ooze class and sophistication (Queen Letizia, we're looking at you). Check out all the best va-va-voom frocks...

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden dressed to impress as she attended a banquet dinner in Stockholm wearing a sweeping scarlet gown that ensured all eyes were on her as she joined dignitaries at the Forest and Agriculture Academy's Feast Meeting at the City Hall.

The Swedish royal's dress featured a full tulle skirt, a red velvet bodice and long sleeves - which were perfect for keeping the chill at bay.

The Duchess of Sussex

Granted, Meghan caused quite the stir when she wore this dress during the royal tour - mainly because she accidentally left on the Self Portrait label on her frock. Oopsy. Megs, we’ve all been there. She still looked red-hot in her scarlet dress, and at £400, it's rather affordable (in royal terms).

PHOTOS: Meghan's maternity style in pictures

The world was left speechless when Meghan Markle put in a stunning appearance at the Intrepid Museum's 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala in New York last November. The wife of Prince Harry dazzled in a show-stopping red gown by Carolina Herrera, complete with a dramatic plunge neckline and gorgeous satin trail. 

The Duchess made sure to make a statement in her final gown as a working member of the royal family - and this Safiyaa show-stopper didn't disappoint.

READ NEXT: The 7 rare moments that Meghan Markle wore a formal royal gown

The Duchess of Cambridge

When Kate attended a royal tour in Canada, she pulled out this amazing Preen dress for the occasion. The royal style star has worn the elegant shade on a number of occasions, but this might be her most glam red frock to date. 

SEE: The Duchess in red: Kate Middleton's top 24 crimson looks

The Duchess of Cambridge released three stunning new portraits to commemorate her 40th birthday - and we're still not over her lady in red moment. Wearing a striking one-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown, diamond earrings on loan from the Queen and her hair naturally wavy, Kate looked beautiful and it's no surprise to see searches for 'red dress' skyrocketed 376% across the world over that weekend.

In January 2020, Kate wowed us all in this glittering midi by high street brand Needle & Thread!

Princess Diana

Diana, Princess of Wales, had the world swooning when she wore a red dress designed by Catherine Walker to attend a dinner in her honour on 24 November, 1995.

MORE: How Princess Diana broke royal protocol with her red manicure

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Crown Princess Mary knows the score - a beautiful red dress is the perfect choice for a New Year’s Eve party.  The crimson coloured gown was given an extra something-something with the help of a glittering tiara and chandelier earrings. Nicely done.

Beatrice Borromeo

Be still our beating heart! We cannot cope with how amazing Beatrice Borromeo looked as she arrived for the annual Rose Ball at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club with her love, Pierre Casiraghi.

Princess Beatrice

It was a deep crimson choice for Princess Beatrice at the 2019 Portrait Gala, when the royal made her first official appearance with fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The beautiful belted dress was made by Alaïa, costing a jaw-dropping £5660. Woah.

Princess Eugenie

When Princess Eugenie stepped out in 2016 to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, she wore a beautiful red dress and we all gave her a nod of approval - this was a stellar look for the Princess.

NEXT: Princess Eugenie's makeup artist reveals the ultimate bridal makeup secrets

Charlotte Casiraghi

When Monaco's Charlotte Casiraghi arrived to attend a mass at the Saint Nicholas cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day, on November 19, 2016, she looked sensational in red. Oh, how we love her style.

Sarah, Duchess of York

We can’t do a red frock round-up without showing off Sarah’s catwalk moment.

The former wife of Prince Andrew walked the runway at the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection during the Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park in 2004.

Queen Rania

Valentino was the designer of choice for Queen Rania of Jordan when she attended the Celebrity Fight Night gala at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

This lady never puts a foot wrong, and this was one of her best looks yet.

Princess Madeleine

Princess Madeleine of Sweden attended the American Scandinavian Society's 2011 Yule ball in New York dressed to thrill in a long red gown, which she teamed with a white faux fur coat.

Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

When Prince Haakon of Norway and Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attended the Gala dinner for the wedding of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Stephanie de Lannoy at the Grand-ducal Palace in 2012, she wore this knock-out of a red dress!

Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana

What does one wear to watch the Christian Dior show on the front row? Why, an amazing red dress, of course.

Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, who is the Princess of Thailand AND a professional badminton player, could have strutted her stuff on the runway looking like that.

SEE MORE: Thailand's Princess Sirivannavari dressing to impress at PFW

Princess Charlene

Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene attend some pretty fancy events, so it's no surprise Charlene has excellent show-stopping skills.

When she graced the red carpet at the 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards in Monte Carlo, she knocked it out of the park with this red dress.

Queen Letizia

Queen Letizia is a big fan of red - and it suits her beautiful tanned skin. The Spanish royal opted for one of her favourite designers, Carolina Herrera, and teamed the dress with a pair of nude heels and a pair of ruby and diamond earrings.

Queen Maxima

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands is definitely one of the most stylish royals, and when she wowed the crowds at a concert in Luxembourg we bowed down to her highness.

LATEST: Queen Máxima reveals the special reason she wore the rare Stuart diamond for British state dinner

Crown Princess Victoria

Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel of Sweden attended the 2018 Polar Music Prize award ceremony, and she decided to up the glam factor with the help of a full-length red dress.

Countess of Wessex

Swit swoo, Sophie. Remember when the Countess of Wessex attended a gala variety show wearing this glamorous red dress? We certainly do, and it was a huge moment for the royal.