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It wasn't just historic ties and a love of the Jersey Cow that formed the basis of a special relationship with our 'Duc' - a sweet substance also acted as the glue keeping the bond between Jersey and the Queen strong.
It started in 1946 - a year after the end of World War 2 - when the then-Princess Elizabeth sent a gift weighing 381kg to all local children after years of undergoing a punishing Occupation diet.
Letters from the Bailiff’s Occupation and Liberation Files held at Jersey Archive show the then Princess Elizabeth sent honey to the island in July 1946.
The Lieutenant Governor at the time, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Grasett, wrote to the Bailiff, Sir Alexander Coutanche, on 1 July 1946 regarding a letter from the British Red Cross. It mentioned that “a gift of six cases of honey from her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth to the children of Jersey” was in transit by Southern Railway.
“I have instructed the Southern Railway to deliver the consignment to Mr Morrison of the Education Committee for distribution under your orders,” Lieutenant-General Grasset wrote. “No doubt you will in due course let me know details of distribution and forward the necessary letter for transmission to her Royal Highness.”
CLICK TO ENLARGE: Correspondence about the sweet gift. (Jersey Heritage)
On 9 July 1946, the then-Secretary of Education, J.P. Morison, wrote to the Bailiff, to inform him 12 tins, containing approximately 840 lbs (about 381kgs) of honey, had arrived at his office.
“It is proposed to divide a proportion of this among the Institutions and the remainder among the Schools of the Island,” he added. “The Jersey Teachers Associations has promised to co-operate fully in this matter.”
He concluded his letter expressing the Education Commiteee’s “deep appreciation and gratitude for this most generous gift”.
The Bailiff then wrote back to the Lieutenant Governor asking him to convey to Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth “their deep appreciation and gratitude for the generous gift of honey”.
“The honey has been safely received and arrangements are being made for its distribution among the children in the Institutions and Schools of the Island,” he added.
Pictured: The Queen and Prince Philip were shown hives and given a sample of the final product to take home by the Jersey Beekeepers Association in 1978. (Jersey Heritage)
“I have the honour to request that Your Excellency will be good enough to express to Her Royal Highness the thanks of the Public Instruction Committee of the States of Jersey for this generous gift to the Children of Jersey, on whose behalf, I beg leave to express to Her Royal Highness our heartfelt thanks and loyal greetings.”
Documents held in the Archive also show that, during a visit to the island in 1978, the Queen spoke to representatives of Jersey Beekeepers' Association's Honey at their stand at Howard Davis Park.
Peter Ashmore, Master of the Household, wrote to the Association’s President from Guernsey on 28 June to thank them for their “very welcome gift of Jersey Honey”.
Pictured: The letter sent to the Jersey Beekeepers Association on behalf of Her Majesty. (Jersey Heritage)
“Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh know well the high reputation of your Island’s product and are delighted to receive this present with its opportunity to refresh their knowledge of its taste in the surroundings of its native land.”
Learn more about the Queen's visit to Jersey in 1978 - and all of her other visits to the island - with our special edition podcast series, 'The Queen and Jersey'.
With thanks to Jersey Heritage for the photographs of the Queen meeting the Jersey Beekeepers Association in 1978..
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