Orge Integrated Primary School pupil Lucas Watt presented the monarch with a gift from Art On A Tin, run by Caroline and Bill Skillen, featuring a picture of the Giant’s Causeway. However, the King may have been more interested in the contents of six handmade truffles made by Geri Martin of The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock.

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His Majesty The King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 13 September 2022, with gifts from Forge Integrated Primary School pupils Ella Smith and Lucas Watt (Credit: Darren Kidd/Presseye) @Press Eye/Darren Kidd His Majesty The King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 13 September 2022, with gifts from Forge Integrated Primary School pupils Ella Smith and Lucas Watt (Credit: Darren Kidd/Presseye) Geri said she was proud to help welcome Her Royal Highness. However, it is far from the first royal rush she has been responsible for. He said: “It’s the most famous order I’ve had, although I’ve made chocolates for other members of the royal family in the past and I’ve been to St James’s Palace. “We also made chocolates for William and Kate during one of their visits to Northern Ireland and they inspired what is now our most popular product, a set of seven trays of different chocolates that you can personalize with messages. “We made 50,000 chocolates for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and worked with a Scottish company called Cobbs Cakes. Our chocolate trays were placed on cupcakes which were then sold to Royal Parks, cafes, restaurants and hotels. “We have also worked with Art On A Tin and were one of a number of craft producers in Northern Ireland who were asked to contribute to hampers sent to four royal households for the Jubilee.”

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Chocolate Manor’s Geri Martin at work in Castlerock Chocolate Manor’s Geri Martin at work in Castlerock He said the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) — the government department responsible for organizing the visit — knew they were on safe ground by giving the commission to the two companies.
“I think with the short notice everyone had that the new King was coming, they knew what we could produce in a short amount of time.” As for the contents of the tin, it’s Chocolate Manor’s six most popular chocolates. “There is a dark raspberry truffle, a lime cream, a dark chocolate orange, a milk truffle, a chocolate strawberries and cream and a soft caramel with added Mussenden sea salt, harvested from the shores of Castlerock. “However, we did not realize that it would be the only gift presented to the King. We thought it would be one of many things, like obstacles. “Business is hard work these days, but you couldn’t ask for this kind of opportunity, although we’ve spent years building a reputation for providing sustainable, high-quality chocolates handcrafted with love. “It was a very nice meeting with Arts On A Tin. And because of the Jubilee, we were able to address some of the challenges that all businesses have faced. “When I started the business 10 years ago this quarter and was learning how to make chocolates, I would never have dreamed that I would be in this position now. “While I have made chocolates for royal households in the past, this is the first time I can be sure that they have fallen into the hands of the monarch.” Bill Skillen, co-owner of Art On A Tin, said: “We are delighted that our little product has been chosen as a gift for the King on his first visit. “We were contacted by the NIO and asked if one of our boxes could be the gift for Charles III. I had to pick myself up off the floor, I was so shocked. “We got the chocolates from Geri Martin and put a message inside the box, His Majesty King Charles III. “I actually just sent Geri a message saying you couldn’t buy this publicity to raise the profile of the two companies.”

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Art On A Tin’s Bill and Caroline Skillen …