The Queen and I: One-upmanship

In October 1981, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Sri Lanka. President J.R. Jayewardene had wanted me (Advisor and retired Archaeological Commissioner) and W.S. Karunaratne (Acting Archaeological Commissioner), to serve as guides to the royal party round the ancient monasteries of Anuradhapura.

Their sojourn commenced one morning dark with clouds, at the vihara of the sacred Bo-tree. Karunaratne was to conduct the Queen’s party, and I was to be in charge of the Prince’s party. Whereas Karunaratne was ‘stuck’ in a traffic jam, the President and the rest of us were at the top of the steps to receive the royal visitors.

The president informed the royal party of the customary requirement to remove footwear. I had taken the precaution of bringing a pair of British Airways socks obtained from Lorraine Jayasuriya of BA. General Attygalle, also Chairman of Air Ceylon, had arranged for a pair of Air Ceylon socks to be placed on a stone pedestal there. I – observed by Her Majesty – placed the BA socks beside the Air Ceylon socks.

British Airways Queen Elizabeth chose the BA socks. The attached photograph shows HRH after donning the BA socks; I am on the far right bearing two trays of flowers.

Raja de Silva