Queen Camilla wows in striking red dress which has a secret meaning behind it

Queen Camilla was a sensation in red during a reception at Clarence House on Wednesday.

The Queen, who is Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, welcomed former soldiers and their families to King Charles’s London residence for an event which was her first engagement as patron of the Colonel’s Fund – the regiment’s charity.

The fund was established in 2007 and provides support to Grenadiers who have suffered serious physical or mental injury while on operational service, and their families.

Camilla wowed the crowds in a striking red Fiona Clare dress that she’s previously worn and paired it with a pair of black suede boots.

She accessorised the look with the Kiki McDonough Apollo mini blue topaz and diamond pendant in yellow gold (£2,300) and her gold plate pendant with a ruby (her July birthstone) centre stone and five initials of her grandchildren from her first marriage: Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis and Gus.

She also wore her signature Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets – the Sweet Alhambra heart 18k rose gold and carnelian bracelet (£1,230) and the Vintage Alhambra 5 Motifs 18k yellow gold and agate bracelet (£4,038).

Royal fans loved the royal in red saying the whole outfit looked “great”, but it was her dress’ secret meaning behind it that was even more poignant.

Camilla’s choice to wear red during this particular event pays homage to her role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards as it “reflects the heritage” of the regiment.

The royal has previously done this before when, during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 2023, she broke royal tradition and instead of wearing a smart day dress opted for a red outfit to mark her new role.

At the time, BBC Presenter Huw Edwards explained: “The Queen, wearing a red silk dress which reflects the heritage of the Grenadier guards, because she’s, of course, the new colonel of the Grenadier guards.”

During Wednesday’s event, Camilla paid tribute to a Grenadier Guardsman posthumously and awarded a Victoria Cross.

Camilla praised the bravery of Lance Corporal James Ashworth as she chatted to his parents, Duane and Caroline Ashworth, telling them “I’m just full of admiration”.

L/Cpl Ashworth, 23, from Corby in Northamptonshire, was killed during an operation to eliminate a group of insurgent sharpshooters in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, in June 2012.

Speaking about L/Cpl Ashworth’s actions, recognised with the British armed forces’ highest military decoration, th Queen told his parents: “You must be so proud, for somebody to be awarded the Victoria Cross is something else.

“It’s unbelievable, I read his citation and couldn’t believe it.”