The royal history behind our Jubilee Chocolate Box

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee nearly here, we thought we’d look at how Bettys marked royal occasions in days gone by and share a few treasures from our own archives…

As the nation prepared to celebrate Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, Bettys was called upon by royal command to create a specially commissioned cake. Once ready, the cake’s intricately iced three tiers were carefully transported south in a staff member’s car – a faster and smooth, if less regal journey than Her Majesty’s horse-drawn carriage – then assembled, topped with a crown and proudly displayed at Buckingham Palace. Our craft bakers and cake decorators had more chances to show off their skills by making cakes for the Golden and Diamond Jubilees in 2002 and 2012.

Further back in our archives we find a Yorkshire Evening News article from December 1931 about a visit to Harrogate by Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood and aunt to our present Queen. The Countess was gifted a specially designed Bettys chocolate box luxuriously covered with blue and silver brocade.

Bettys adverts from the time claim ‘Under Royal Patronage’ and it’s known that Princess Mary was a regular visitor to Harrogate – although whether she liked to pop into our café to enjoy afternoon tea or stock up on chocolates is lost to the mists of time. Sadly there’s no surviving photograph of the box itself, but it does sound teasingly similar to a beautiful silk-lined chocolate box from the same period, donated to us by a Bettys customer in 2014 and now held in our archives.

That chocolate box inspired the design of chocolates marking Bettys’ centenary in 2019, but when it came to creating our new limited-edition Jubilee Chocolate Box, we looked back even further to the glorious 64-year reign of Queen Victoria. Bettys designer Alex Meek took inspiration from a twopence postage stamp commemorating Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, adapting its decorative motifs and combining its handsome green hue with Bettys burgundy, gold and cream to create a timelessly stylish design.

The chocolates themselves draw upon our own long tradition of confectionery excellence while also capturing this summer’s vibrant spirit in a real celebration for the senses. Crafted from our finest quality Swiss Grand Cru and filled with a combination of rich ganache and tangy pâte de fruits, each milk chocolate truffle has one of four decadent centres inspired by the season’s essential experiences: honey & almond, wild strawberry & rose, raspberry & Slingsby gin, and orange palet d’or.

Individually finished with a mix of hand-painted colour and brushed golden shimmer, they’re something of a jewel in the Bettys crown – perfect for sending as a summer gift or making your Jubilee celebration guests feel like royalty.

To purchase our exclusive Jubilee Chocolate Box click here.