Queen's dress provides taste of India at dinner for Patil

Windsor: The British Queen wore a dress fit for the occasion at her state banquet for President Pratibha Patil Tuesday night — after using a length of Indian fabric which had been lying unused in a cupboard for decades.

Elizabeth II's stunning pale gold gown made its debut at the banquet after being delivered to her in the morning by her dresser.

"It's an Indian material from an earlier visit, but the Queen couldn't remember when," a royal spokeswoman told IANS at Windsor Castle, where Elizabeth II hosted the dinner, attended by 150 guests including Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Forgotten

"She had it in the cupboard and had forgotten about it. We think it could be from her first visit to India," the spokeswoman added.

The 83-year-old Queen had the fabric turned into a glamorous dress by her personal dresser Angela Kelly,

The British monarch has visited India three times — in 1961, 1983 and 1997.