More than 1,000 Paddington Bear toys that were left in tribute to Queen Elizabeth have been donated to the children's charity Barnardo's.
Queen Consort Camilla said it was “a pleasure” to re-home the bears with vulnerable children at a nursery. The toys were left by members of the public at the Long Walk in Windsor and outside Buckingham Palace after the Queen’s death in September. Prince William previously said he "choked up" while viewing the tributes.
The queen consort chatted with dozens of youngsters cared for by the Barnardo’s charity at Bow Nursery in east London during a picnic, complete with marmalade sandwiches.
She was joined by Paddington film cast members Hugh Bonneville and Madeleine Harris, and Karen Jankel, the daughter of author Michael Bond, for whom he wrote the stories.
The royal family has donated more than 1,000 bears to Barnardo’s and each one was professionally cleaned before being delivered to the charity.
On Thursday, the queen consort was greeted by Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry and chairman of trustees John Bartlett before being taken on a tour of the nursery by team manager Shamima Ahmed.
The queen consort joined a group of children aged two and under around a table, and two-year-old Noa Nkemdirim hovered nearby until Camilla gave her a hug.
She also spoke to a circle of older children who were playing with blue foam, asking them: “What are we doing here?
“Making a mess? We love a bit of mess.”
To mark the end of her visit, the queen consort shared marmalade sandwiches while seated beside Bonneville, Harris and Ms Jankel, with about 40 children sitting cross-legged at their feet.
Three-year-old Oscar Isherwood shouted “I don’t like marmalade” while others clamoured to be given a bear by the queen consort.
Camilla gently told the children to place the tiny boots on their Paddington Bears, “otherwise he won’t be able to go outside”.
Bonneville, who plays Mr Brown in the movie, read Bond’s story Paddington Takes A Bath to the children, echoing the way their bears all needed a clean before arriving at the nursery.
As she stood to leave, Camilla told the children and their carers: “It has been a pleasure to find a home for these bears ― please look after them carefully.”
Carer Leighann Ives and three-year-old Serena Wicks presented her with a bouquet and a thank-you note.
Ms Perry told the queen consort her visit had brought “happiness and joy” to the children at Barnardo’s.
She said: “I hope you can see it’s meant the world to the children here today to receive a Paddington Bear.
“It’s such a privilege for us ― a real honour ― and I hope you’ve seen the happiness and the joy that this occasion has brought to children in Barnardo’s.”
Ms Jankel, 64, whose father died aged 91 in 2017, said the Paddington author would have been “completely overwhelmed” by the queen’s connection with his books.
She said: “I don’t think he ever anticipated Paddington reaching such dizzy heights.”
Bonneville described the queen and Paddington as “two great symbols of kindness” and said the toy bears served as “a nice memory of her majesty that will continue for the next generation”.
-
A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -
Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -
A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -
Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -
A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -
Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -
Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -
Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -
A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -
Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -
Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -
An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -
Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -
A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -
Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -
Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -
A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -
A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -
Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -
People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -
Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -
A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -
Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -
Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -
The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -
Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -
A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -
Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -
People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
Camilla travelled to the nursery in a car filled with some of the Paddingtons, on a journey from Clarence House in Westminster, along the Mall and past London landmarks including Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge.
The visit came after Camilla was pictured surrounded by teddies in a photo taken on October 13 to mark the 64th anniversary of the publication of the first Paddington Bear book.
In the queen’s platinum jubilee sketch in the summer, the Peruvian bear visits Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea, during which the queen produces a marmalade sandwich from her handbag.
It prompted mourners to leave teddy bears and even some marmalade sandwiches among the floral tributes amassed outside royal residences after her death.
In 2016, the queen passed the patronage of Barnardo’s to Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall.
