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Thornton’s confisseur Walter Willen with the four eggs he decorated for the Queen’s grandchildren

The Queen looks at a production line of rum truffles – all later destroyed for hygiene reasons

Her Majesty was impressed by this four-feet high chocolate bunny made at the Swanwick factory of Thorntons

There was a sweet treat in store for the grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II after Her Majesty made a pre-Easter visit to Thornton's Derbyshire factory on March 15, 1985.

Swiss confisseur Walter Willen (55), had specially iced the names Peter, Zara, William and Harry on to four special Thornton's Easter Eggs for the children of Princess Anne and Princess Diana. These were presented to the Queen when she toured Thornton's £4-million factory at Swanwick.

The Queen watched rum truffles rolling off the production line - but in keeping with the stringent food hygiene rules these were later all destroyed because the Royal party had not been asked to wear overalls.

Her Majesty also saw a four-foot high chocolate bunny that had taken Mr Willen and his team two weeks to make, using 24 coats of chocoate. The bunny survived the chocolate cull and was destined for Alfreton Park Wood School.

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County:  Derbyshire

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