Secrets behind Queen's James Bond outfit revealed "The Buckingham Palace dressmakers worked quietly for months, never having both dresses out of storage at the same time," she writes. Even they did not know why two dresses were required for the same event. The colour of the dress was considered "fundamental," Kelly reveals. It not only had to stand out as the Queen descended towards the sea of colour in the stadium but it also had to be one not associated with any of the participating Olympic nations. The crystal and lace peach beaded cocktail dress was thus designed especially for the occasion, its pleated skirt detail an "important feature" that ensured the dress was identifiable as the Queen left the palace and recognised as it emerged from the helicopter. Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe is a glossy hardback that describes the lengthy process required to put together each of the Queen's outfits, from sourcing fabrics, to cutting up sequins and ensuring that every cuff, hem, heel and neckline is the appropriate length and height. Kelly, personal assistant, adviser and curator to the Queen, discloses that the monarch taught her how to test fabrics before she buys them to ensure they will not crease. "I will squeeze and test the sample in my hands before smoothing it out once more," she says. If the material remains creased and crumpled, then it will be of no use and will be discarded from the selection. This is something that The Queen herself taught me: by applying this test, you can see if the material creases. Kelly reveals that the Queen is "frugal and very aware of costs" and is therefore "always happy" when she returns to the Palace before the shops have closed. She says the monarch "does not mind some discomfort when looking the part is important" and likes her clothes to be fitted but not too tight. She prefers two-inch heels and hand bags with long handles that will not catch on her cuffs. The book discloses that occasionally, weights are sewn into the seams of dresses to avoid potential embarrassment. Fitting sessions usually take half a day but Kelly reveals that the Queen rarely changes her mind. "Her Majesty's instincts are usually correct," she says. The Queen's team of dressers spent almost two years preparing her Diamond Jubilee outfits and tried to keep costs down by sourcing fabrics from the Palace stockroom, many of which date back to 1961. The white dress she wore for the Thames River Pageant was designed to stand out against the deep reds of the barge while the gold outfit she wore for the concert echoed the colour of the Victoria Memorial that was turned into a stage, Kelly says. The dressmaker reveals that the Queen was "very specific" about the evening gown she wanted to wear for a state banquet in Dublin in May last year, which featured more than 2,000 silk shamrocks especially designed and sewn on by hand as well as an Irish harp design made of crystals. "The Queen has a fantastic understanding of clothes and fashion and is very aware of what suits her and what would be appropriate for any occasion," she says.