Queen Consort Camilla Surrounded by Over 1,000 Toy Bears Donated to Charity
A new heartwarming photo shows Queen Consort Camilla beaming as she sits surrounded by more than 1,000 teddy bears donated to Barnardo’s children’s charity. The bears, including beloved Paddington bears, were left by the public outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle following the late Queen Elizabeth II’s death last month.
Packed with Paddingtons and Pristine Plush
The teddy bears were collected, professionally cleaned, and are set to be delivered to Barnardo’s children’s services in the coming weeks. In the touching image, Camilla wears a navy blue dress with white stitching while clutching a Paddington bear, a nod to the 64th anniversary of the first Paddington bear book.
This isn’t the first royal Paddington moment – the Peruvian bear famously appeared at Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, where Her Majesty pulled a marmalade sandwich from her handbag, delighting the nation. Inspired by this, mourners left teddy bears and even marmalade sandwiches among floral tributes after the Queen’s passing.
From Royal Tribute to Children’s Comfort
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who took over as Barnardo’s patron in 2016, said of the initiative: “Please look after this bear.” The Royal Family’s official Twitter account shared the tweet alongside the new photo, highlighting the bears’ fresh, clean state before their new roles.
Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s chief executive, praised the tribute: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Barnardo’s patron for over 30 years. We are honoured to give homes to the teddies left in her memory. We’re incredibly grateful to The Queen Consort for helping raise awareness for vulnerable children across the UK.”
Royal Parks and Volunteers Join the Effort
Tom Jarvis, director of parks at the Royal Parks charity, said: “We’ve been looking for a fitting use for the hundreds of teddy bears left in Green Park and Hyde Park to honour the Queen. We’re thrilled these teddies will now bring joy and comfort to Barnardo’s children.”
The Royal Parks charity, assisted by shire horses and nearly 200 volunteers, collected all tributes from Green Park and Hyde Park late last month. The teddy bears are now carefully looked after at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, and the Royal Parks nursery.
Bears left as tributes on the Long Walk outside Windsor Castle will also be cleaned and donated to Barnardo’s, ensuring these fuzzy symbols of love and remembrance continue to brighten young lives across the country.
