Famous dresses worn by the Queen are on display at Buckingham Palace.

But that’s exactly what happened ahead of the London 2012 Olympics when the Queen’s specialist team of designers created two versions of the same dress — one for her majesty and one for her stunt double.

“Two identical versions of the dress were made by her majesty’s senior dresser and designer Angela Kelly and her team of seamstresses here at Buckingham Palace,” said Caroline de Guitaut — curator of the Fashioning a Reign exhibition that covers 90 years of the Queen’s most famous outfits.

“It was under such secrecy that even those teams working on it had no idea why two exact versions were being produced.”

The helicopter stunt that followed involving Daniel Craig as James Bond and her famous corgis is just one example of the level of planning that goes into every outfit worn by the world’s most famous monarch. Now some of her most notable items of clothing and the story behind them have been revealed for the first time in the Royal Collection Trust exhibition.

The Queen's corgis co-starred in her movie moment with Daniel Craig for the 2012 Olympics and the dress was designed specifically not to match the colour of other nations.Source:Supplied

The display includes key garments from throughout the Queen’s life from a replica of the royal christening gown worn by more than 60 royal babies to the dress she wore at her father’s coronation in 1937.

The most lavish items include two gowns by former theatre designer Norman Hartnell including her 1947 wedding dress and one worn for her coronation in 1953.

The bridal gown inspired by Botticelli’s Primavera (springtime) was designed to symbolise a rebirth of the nation after the war. The young Princess collected ration coupons in order to fund the material and it included a 13 foot train made from raw silk and over 10,000 pearls imported from the US.

The coronation gown — made with the first ever television audience for such an event in mind — is equally symbolic. It’s embroidered with the emblems of UK nations, the English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh leek and Irish shamrock, as well as the wattle, silver fern and lotus of Commonwealth countries.

“It was actually her majesty that suggested to Hartnell that not only should he incorporate the emblems of the UK but also her majesty was most particular that the emblems of dominions should also be incorporated,” Ms de Guitaut said.

The Queen famously collected coupons for her wedding dress which symbolised a rebirth of the nation in the post-war era. Picture: AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLISSource:AFP

This came was designed by fashion student Marion Foale for the Queen’s role as head of the British Empire and had to be specifically designed for a female. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

A pale blue and gold evening dress by Sir Norman Hartnell, worn by the Queen on a state visit to The Netherlands in 1958. Picture: by Ian Gavan/Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

The gowns read like a historical chronicle covering major events over the last 90 years. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Alongside the incredible couture are costumes embodying her role as head of the British Empire including a ceremonial coat designed by then 21-year-old fashion student Marion Foale in 1952. As a whole, the 150 items chart an incredible catalogue of historic events from outfits worn on a historic visit to China to sending her first email and the opening of the Channel Tunnel.

Ms de Guitau said the exclusively British-designed collection contains “a huge amount of planning and thought” as it is often used to portray a message using colours and motifs rather than words.

“Religious and social conventions are very important,” she said, adding that the Queen only ever dresses in bright, block colours so she can be spotted by the waiting crowds — particularly evident in her vivid green Stewart Parvin outfit that sparked the hashtag Neon at 90 this June.

“This is very important because it enables those who are available waiting to meet the Queen or want to spot or catch a glimpse of the Queen to be able to spot her immediately when she arrives so they can see her very clearly in a crowd.”

And the only fashion no-no? Black, which she only ever wears to meet the Pope.

Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s wardrobe is on at Buckingham Palace from 23 July to 2 October.

The Queen often dresses in bright block colours to be seen but also to convey meaning through her clothing. Picture: AP Photo/Frank Augstein.Source:AP