Meghan Markle dazzled in a rare red carpet appearance wearing a red dress with a daring neckline

• Meghan Markle made her red carpet return in a red designer gown at the Salute to Freedom Gala.
• Markle wore a crimson red Carolina Herrera dress featuring a daring neckline and thigh-length slit.
• She came with Prince Harry, who wore a tux after the palace banned him from wearing military attire.

Meghan Markle made her red carpet return in a designer dress with a daring neckline while accompanying Prince Harry to the Salute to Freedom Gala in New York City on Wednesday night.

She opted for a custom red silk Carolina Herrera gown designed by Wes Gordon, Vogue reports. The dress featured a bold, open-shouldered neckline and a thigh-high slit.

The 40-year-old mother of two complimented the dress subtly, sporting a few bracelets, diamond drop earrings, and her wedding ring, the publication added. Her hair was kept smoothed back in an updo while she opted to accentuate the color palette of the dress with a pair of ruby red Guiseppe Zanotti heels.

By combining the show-stopping dress with modest details, Markle effortlessly mixed royal glamor with laidback California style. It's not the first time she's done so either – during her Oprah Winfrey interview back in March, the Duchess of Sussex paired a sleek updo and modest makeup with dazzling jewelry that seemingly referenced royal family members.

Meanwhile, her husband coordinated his look to match Markle's evening attire. Harry, who was invited as a guest of honor to the event and gave a speech in honor of servicemen and women in the US, wore a classic tuxedo with four military medals pinned to his jacket. Both he and Markle wore red poppies on the left side of their clothing in recognition of Remembrance Day in the UK on Thursday.

While the Duke of Sussex served 10 years in the British military and carried out two tours of Afghanistan, he was unable to wear his service uniform to the event having been stripped of his honorary military titles by the palace in February, Metro reports.

According to the New York Times, Buckingham Palace released a statement on February 19 on behalf of the Queen outlining how both Harry and Markle's decision to step back from "the work of the royal family" meant it wasn't possible for them to "continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service."

Nonetheless, Harry's continued passion for service was made clear on Wednesday evening during his speech at the Gala.

According to his prepared remarks provided to Insider by a representative of the Duke of Sussex, he spoke about how his years of services impacted him personally.

"My experience in the military made me who I am today, and I will always be grateful for the people I got to serve with - wherever in the world we were," he said.