Memorable moment for me- the day I met Prince Phillip -by Irangani Gunatillake

Memorable moment for me- the day I met Prince Phillip.

It was in the year 1968, I was nominated as the Tea Queen to represent Sri Lanka at the Scottish Wholesale Society (SCWS), Centenary celebrations in Glasgow, on 5th July 1968.

Queen Elizabeth 11, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh graced the occasion and declared open the centenary celebrations, on the 5th of July.

The Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) was founded to serve the Scottish cooperative movement as a wholesaler, in 1868.

This wholesale Society imported ‘Ceylon Tea’ during the eighteen nineties, and since it was a profitable venture those years, to show appreciation to the Tea trade, a Ceylon Tea exhibition Stall was initiated among other stalls, within the premises of the wholesale building where the celebration was held.

I was sent as Tea Queen to represent the country and oversee the exhibition Ceylon Stall.

The Queen visited our exhibition stall, and she had a personal chat with me for 20 minutes, and the main topic of conversation was all about ‘Ceylon Tea’.

After I was presented to Her Royal Highness, the Duke broke away from the group, spoke to me and asked where I worked, and spoke about his memories when he visited Ceylon.

It was a most exciting day of my life to meet face to face both HE Queen and Prince Philip and having the opportunity to be presented and converse with both.

My thanks to the Ceylon Tea Board, to have nominated me as the Tea Queen to represent the Tea trade exhibition stall in Glasgow.

Irangani Gunatillake