An evening dress of white duchesse satin with bell-shaped skirt, pleated at the waist and the bodice with straight decolletage. The straps of emerald green satin and the back of the dress applied with a waterfall pleat falling from the centre back, similarly lined in emerald green satin.

In early 1961, Queen Elizabeth II embarked upon a six-week tour of India and Pakistan. On their first day in Pakistan, The Queen and Prince Philip attended a banquet given in their honour by President Ayub Khan at his residence in Karachi. A great deal of careful thought and planning went into The Queen’s wardrobe for this tour, particularly the grand evening dresses worn on important state occasions. For this banquet, The Queen wore this duchesse satin evening dress in ivory and emerald green – the national colours of Pakistan. Norman Hartnell, who designed this dress, incorporated a dramatic waterfall train at the back. For Hartnell's sketch of the dress see RCIN 935862.

The Queen chose jewellery to match the dress, wearing the Vladimir Tiara fitted with the Cambridge Emeralds and the Ladies of India Necklace, mounted with stones from the same parure. The dress was the perfect foil for The Queen’s insignia of the Order of Pakistan, with which she was invested by President Ayub Khan during the visit.