CONFECTIONERS in York are appealing to the Queen’s sweet tooth with a special presentation box being made for her visit to the city next month.

Three city chocolatiers are each contributing to a two-layered specially-commissioned wooden and glass casket of chocolates and sweets that will be presented to the monarch when she comes to the city on Maundy Thursday, April 5.

Nestlé, York Cocoa House and Tangerine Confectionery will all be producing their own signature sweets for the presentation box which is being made by Shambles craftsman John Freeborn.

Sophie Jewett, owner of York Cocoa House, said the idea came about after she unearthed correspondence between sweet manufacturers Terry’s, Rowntrees and Cravens in the 1970s before a Royal visit.

On that occasion all three had contributed to a similar casket which had three layers and was gifted to the Queen.

Ms Jewett said: “It was really lovely correspondence and when we heard the Queen was coming to York this year I approached the Lord Mayor’s office to see if it would be possible to do a similar thing again. It’s not about copying or recreating anything. It’s about celebrating York’s chocolate history, but also its current chocolate industry and showcasing what the city does best.”

Ms Jewett said precisely which chocolate and sweets would be going in the casket was a closely guarded secret, but all three chocolatiers would be evenly represented across both layers.

The presentation ties in with the city’s first chocolate festival, which is being organised by Ms Jewett and it is hoped a replica of the box will go on display at the city’s latest tourist attraction Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story, in King’s Square.

• As the Queen prepares to visit York to distribute Maundy Money and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, The Press is preparing to publish a series of special Royal supplements and we want to hear from readers about their own royal experiences.

Were you born on the day the monarch became Queen, or on the day she was born, April 21 1926? Perhaps you remember Coronation Day? Or, were you in York when the Queen last visited the Minster on Maundy Thursday, in 1972? Do you have pictures of that day, or of your Coronation celebrations? If you are prepared to share your memories with other readers, email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk or kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk, or contact Mike on 01904 567132 or Kate on 567168.