The catwalk Queen - royal dresses go on display at the Palace

DRESSES worn by the Queen during six decades of Commonwealth tours will be displayed at Buckingham Palace this summer.

The summer opening, during which visitors are allowed to view parts of the royal residence, celebrates the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth.

The exhibition will include more than 100 gifts received by the Queen during her 170 visits and 27 evening gowns and day dresses she wore. Her travelling wardrobe is meticulously planned by the Queen's Dresser and designers. Outfits are chosen so the colours and fabrics allow the Queen to be clearly visible among large crowds. Evening wear is designed to complement the country's insignia.

The special "Olympic" dress the Queen wore to the 1976 Games in Montreal will be on display - a traditional design embroidered with stylised Olympic rings. Presents on show include a totem pole from British Columbia and a carved wooden throne from the King of the Ashanti.

The silk scarf Nelson Mandela gave the Queen in 1995 will also be on show, as will the traditional Maori feather chieftain cloaks presented to her and the Duke of Edinburgh during their 1953 tour to New Zealand. The exhibition, which runs from 26 July until 28 September, will also feature archive photographs and film footage of royal visits.