York 1935 royal souvenir chocolates to be auctioned

The Rowntree's chocolates were made to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary in 1935

A box of uneaten 88-year-old chocolates found under a bed is expected to fetch up to £200 at auction.

The tin of Rowntree's treats, made in York, was a royal souvenir given to Vera Petchell from Leeds by her father when she was eight years old.

She kept the sweets, which were made to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary, because she was told they would be valuable one day.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson said the gift had been "treated like treasure".

Vera Petchell, who grew up in Holbeck, Leeds, wondered where the confectionery had gone

After keeping the chocolates for more than 80 years, Ms Petchell lost them six years before she died in 2022 at the age of 95.

They were discovered hidden inside a toffee tin from Thorne's of Leeds in a drawer under a bed at Ms Petchell's home in Beeston, Leeds, by her daughter, Nadine Mccafferty.

Ms Mccafferty, 71, said: "Mum was mortified when she lost the chocolates. She had us hunting high and low for them. She thought we'd accidentally thrown them out.

"She spent the last few years of her life wondering where they'd got to."

The chocolates were discovered inside a toffee tin six years after Ms Petchell died

Mr Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "What a relief those chocolates have been found and are here to honour Vera's memory.

"I can imagine her horror at thinking she had lost them after treasuring them for more than 80 years.

"It must have been hard for Vera not to eat a morsel of chocolate, but in those days a gift like this was so special it was treated like treasure."

Mr Hanson said the delicacies were "in good condition considering they were made nearly a century ago".

He said some of the chunky chocolate pieces, each of which carry Rowntree's name on them, were visible due to tears in the silver foil covering them.

Rowntree's are "an important manufacturer in Britain's chocolate heritage," Mr Hanson said.

The historical find would appeal to collectors of both chocolate and royal memorabilia, he added.

The chocolates are due to be auctioned on 19 October.