Queen Elizabeth II honoured Trinidad and Tobago through fashion during the State banquet on Thursday night.

The monarch’s white-laced hand-beaded gown was adorned with this country’s national flower - the Chaconia - and national birds - the Scarlet Ibis and Cocrico.

Although the themed diplomatic embroidery goes back to the 1953 Coronation when the Queen had emblems of all her realms sewn into her dress, the move was a cost saving measure.

In order for other tributes to be added to the dress - which was made in-house by Her Majesty’s dresser and personal assistant Angela Kelly - during future state visits, the emblems can be unstitched and removed.

The monarch also recycled her 1947 wedding day tiara for the state banquet.

The George III tiara (also known as the Russian Fringe Tiara) was made with diamonds formerly owned by George III.

Complementing her outfit were diamond and ruby earrings, with a matching necklace and bracelet.

Accompanied by Prince Phillip, the Queen arrived at President’s House for the State banquet just before 8 p.m. on Thursday in a black Range Rover.

The Royal couple were taken to a private sitting room where they met President George Maxwell Richards his wife Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards; his son Mark, daughter in law Dr. Maryam Abdool, and daughter Maxine.

They also greeted Prime Minister Patrick Manning and wife Hazel Manning as well as Chief Justice Ivor Archie and his wife, Denise.

The Royal couple were then escorted to the adjacent grounds, where the banquet was being held.

Before dinner the Queen delivered her first official speech during her visit, where she described Tobago as ’an enchanting island’, that holds many memories for both the Duke and her.

And although there has been negative publicity from incidents affecting Brits in Tobago, the Queen said ’in tourism, Tobago continues to be a byword in the United Kingdom for Caribbean hospitality’.

She added: ’Some 50,000 British tourists visit the island each year; and I hope people of all ages will continue to travel between our two countries and learn about each other, whether working, studying or visiting as tourists.’

She offered further assistance to the country in the National Security sector.

’Mr President, in recent years Trinidad and Tobago has made great strides,’ the Queen said.

’Your Government’s leadership on regional security has been rightly praised, particularly its pioneering efforts to encourage the sharing of good ideas and techniques in counter narcotics co-operation throughout the Caribbean.’

’My Government remains ready to assist in the security sector and in the reforms of judicial processes.’

Her Majesty highlighted this country’s provision of, ’good quality education and opportunities for further development’.

’Today every citizen has access to tertiary education through the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) scheme,’ she said.

 ’The St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies has an international reputation as a centre of academic excellence, providing a benchmark for educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth,’ she said.

The Queen also praised the cultural achievements of authors, painters and photographers in what she said was ’the birthplace of calypso music and the steel pan.’

In the sporting world she applauded the achievements of cricketer Brian Lara.

’You have produced a batsman widely regarded as one of the finest ever to have played the game ... And in athletics you have achieved impressive results in recent Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

 ’We look forward to welcoming your teams to London in 2012.’