Lady in red! Catherine looks every inch a queen in waiting in glittering gown

She will one day bear the title of queen, once her husband Prince William takes his place as king of the United Kingdom, and Catherine was the epitome of royal class and style on Monday as she hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked flawless last night as she co-hosted the event alongside her husband to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit, which will be hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and aims to strengthen the UK’s relationship with African nations through trade, investment and jobs.

Catherine donned a glittering red gown by British designer Needle and Thread for the reception, which was covered in elaborate beading and sequins and featured lace full-length sleeves and a tulle skirt that fell to her ankles.

The mother-of-three completed the elegant look with a pair of red stiletto heels and a matching box clutch bag, while the duchess wore her hair in glamorous bouncy curls. Meanwhile Prince William donned a smart navy suit for the occasion, paired with a burgundy tie.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward also attended the reception, and the mother-of-two seemed to take a leaf out of Catherine’s book as she also opted for a stunning red dress for the occasion.

Sophie, who celebrated her 50th birthday on Monday, looked sensational in the vibrant red fit and flare dress which featured sophisticated cap sleeves and a quirky scalloped hemline. She paired the dress with a pair of metallic velvet heels and wore her hair in an effortless half-up style.

Prince William delivered a speech at the reception as he described the special place that Africa holds in his heart, having proposed to Catherine in Kenya back in 2010. The couple were married one year later at Westminster Abbey and have since welcomed three children.

Speaking last night, he said: “The African continent holds a very special place in my heart. It is a place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died, and when deciding where best to propose to Catherine I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee.

“Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to spend time in many other parts of Africa, I am also honoured to be the Patron of the Royal African Society. And as Catherine and I have said to several of you tonight, we hope to have the chance to visit many more countries in the future and share our mutual love of your continent with our children.”

"The African continent holds a very special place in my heart." — The Duke of Cambridge at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the UK-Africa Investment Summit #InvestinAfrica pic.twitter.com/MVylx0ijiB

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 20, 2020

Prince William also told the crowd that his grandmother Her Majesty the Queen was “sorry not to be here this evening” and passed on her warmest wishes to those in attendance.

The Queen was spotted out in public with son Prince Andrew on Sunday as the pair attended a church service at St Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, Sandringham. The outing came just hours after Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming the details of the deal that had been agreed upon with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Details of the deal were made public on Saturday evening (UK time), including the fact that Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles or receive public funds. While the couple will also pay back the £2.4 million (AU$4.6 million) of public cash that was spent on the refurbishment of their Windsor home Frogmore Cottage.