Daughter of Busselton legend Di Cullen recalls her mother’s life-changing lunch with Queen Elizabeth II

The daughter of a prominent Busselton winemaker who was lucky enough to meet with Queen Elizabeth II when she travelled to the South West has spoken of her late mother’s life-changing experience with the beloved royal, just days after her death. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Busselton and the South West in 2000 as part of her two week stay in Australia. One of those lucky enough to meet Her Majesty was the late Di Cullen, matriarch and founder of Cullen Wines and a pioneer of Viticulture in the Busselton region. She was awarded an Order of Australia for Viticulture in 1999. The late Di Cullen, who would have turned 100 next year, was seated to the right of the Queen for lunch, at the then-Busselton Shire Chambers. Her daughter, Vanya Cullen said the experience was the best day of her Mother’s life. “I remember Mum excitedly discussing what she would wear to meet the Queen, in the lead up. Mum would never say exactly what they discussed over lunch, just that they talked about family, food, wine and how they both preferred butter to olive oil,” she said. “Mum was of the same era as the Queen and greatly admired her, it would have been the best day of her life. “I think they would have found common ground chatting over lunch, they were both matriarchs with a sense of duty”. Beryle Morgan was Busselton Shire president at the time of the special visit and recalled it as one of the highlights in the city’s history. “It was a day I realised that even people in power are just people at the end of the day – she was a Queen but also a wife and a mother — we spoke about family at the lunch,” he said. “I was seated the left of the Queen at lunch, Di to her right. She made you feel so at ease and comfortable yet at the same time, carried herself beautifully and with grace. “There was no media and we spoke freely, it was just like sitting down with friends over lunch”. Mrs Morgan recalled that her Majesty, accompanied by Prince Phillip were keen to talk to as many people as possible, at one point even breaking with protocol to let a small child slip under the rope barrier to give the Queen flowers. The Queen arrived in Australia on March 17, 2000 and left on April 1, making a stop in Busselton on March 31, towards the end of the two-week stay. The Queen and Prince Phillip arrived by plane at Busselton airport, where they were greeted by a big welcoming committee, including St Joseph’s Primary School students. The royal couple were shown the world-class produce of the region at a display in Busselton’s Rotary Park and former Bunbury Regional Art Galleries director James Davies showed the Queen a selection of artwork from the region. The Queen also met respected Noongar elders George and Vilma Webb and Mitchella Hutchins from the Waljin Aboriginal interpretive garden. Students from Eaton Primary School were among the thousands of students and well-wishers from around the region there to greet the royal couple, while the students at Vasse Primary School were treated with a visit from the pair at their historic school. The Queen and Prince Phillip made their first visit to South West during the 1954 Royal Tour. On this visit they were greeted by highland pipe band at the Busselton Showgrounds, with school students from around the region taking the train to Busselton to see the couple. Rainy weather marked the 1954 visit to Perth and the South West, but newspaper reports from the time applauded the royal couple’s spirit — the pair insisted on holding to their plans to drive through the streets in an open car with the roof down so they wouldn’t “disappoint” the welcoming crowds. Other WA stops on the six-month long 1954 tour included Northam, Kalgoorlie and Albany. The Queen reigned for 70 years, breaking the previous record of 63 years, seven months and two days, held for more than a century by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. She died just over a year after losing her husband Prince Philip. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sunday a National Day of Mourning for the Queen will be held on Thursday, September 22