Camilla personally delivers Paddington toys left as tributes to the late Queen to  Barnardo’s

The Queen Consort attended a special teddy bears picnic at the Barnardo’s nursery today as she delivered the Paddington toys left at Royal residences as tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. 

The Queen Consort, who was elegantly dressed in an emerald green coat dress for the outing, beamed as she arrived at the Barnardo’s in Bow this morning.

She was accompanied by a number of members of staff, who were carrying baskets filled with the cuddly toys.

They were among more than a thousand teddy bears and soft toys left outside the monarch’s London residence, as well as Windsor Castle, in memory of Queen Elizabeth II after her death in September.

Royal officials announced last month that the bears would be cleaned and distributed to children in need via Barnardo’s, the charity of which she was patron for more than 30 years.

The Queen Consort, who was elegantly dressed in an emerald green coat dress for the outing, beamed as she arrived at the Barnardo’s in Bow this morning

Her Majesty arrived in a convoy of electric taxis which transported the toys from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House thanks to the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children, of which she is also patron.

King Charles’ wife, 75, then shared some of the cuddly toys with children supported by the charity. 

In 2016, Queen Elizabeth passed the patronage of Barnardo’s – which works to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children – to the then Duchess of Cornwall. 

During her visit, Camilla joined children supported by Bow Nursery and Barnardo’s staff for the picnic, alongside key characters from the world of Paddington. 

On October 13 2022, Camilla was photographed (above) with some of the hundreds of Paddingtons to be donated to Barnardo’s

Paddington film cast members Hugh Bonneville and Madeleine Harris, who play Mr Brown and Judy Brown respectively, and Paddington author Michael Bond’s daughter Karen Jankel, for whom the original stories were written, were also in attendance at the event.

It was announced last month that over 1,000 Paddingtons and teddy bears left as tributes in London and Windsor would be donated to Barnardo’s children’s services. 

The teddy bears have all been professionally cleaned ahead of the delivery, with those being presented by Her Majesty to remain with children at the Bow Nursery, while others will be distributed to children supported by Barnardo’s across the country.  

As part of the teddy bears picnic celebration, Hugh Bonneville will read the story ‘Paddington Takes A Bath’ to the children and guests, reflective of the bears’ journey so far. 

Her Majesty arrived in a convoy of electric taxis which transported the toys from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House thanks to the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children, of which she is also patron

Paddington became a totem for the Queen in the days following her death because one of her last public appearances was in the delightful sketch she filmed with him for her Platinum Jubilee. 

The late Queen had charmed TV viewers with the Jubilee sketch depicting her taking tea with Paddington at Buckingham Palace, revealing that she kept a marmalade sandwich in her handbag.

The skit was actually filmed, amid great secrecy, at Windsor Castle, and led to the bears being left alongside flowers in London’s Green Park and Hyde Park after the Queen’s death.

During her visit, Camilla joined children supported by Bow Nursery and Barnardo’s staff for the picnic, alongside key characters from the world of Paddington

The Queen Consort posed for a snap alongside a number of the cuddly toy bears as she delivered them to 

Almost 200 volunteers collected up all the tributes, loading them on to wagons drawn by two grey Shire horses.

On October 13 2022, Camilla was photographed in the Morning Room at Clarence House with some of the hundreds of Paddingtons and teddy bears to be donated to Barnardo’s. 

Mourners left so many stuffed toys, as well as the character’s beloved marmalade sandwiches, amid the floral tributes that Royal Parks bosses had to urge them to stop. 

Prince William later said he got ‘choked up’ seeing the Paddingtons, admitting: ‘It is the things you don’t expect that get to you.’ 

The late Queen met Paddington Bear for a sketch for her Jubilee celebrations which opened the BBC’s Party in the Palace to mark her 70 years on the throne 

Ahead of their distribution, Buckingham Palace and Royal Parks issued a charming video and photographs showing the bears’ journey from collection to sorting.

And how better to bide their time by enjoying all that Buckingham Palace and neighbouring Clarence House, where the King and Queen Consort currently live, have to offer?

One can be seen standing in the entrance to the throne room, while another is cheekily taking the chance to slide down the bannister on the Grand Staircase – something that even the royal children probably have never had the chance to do.

Ahead of their distribution, Buckingham Palace and Royal Parks issued a charming video and photographs showing the bears’ journey from collection to sorting (pictured)  

A little family of bears can also be seen enjoying the peace and quiet of its Morning Room besides a picture of Her late Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh with their ‘elevenses’ – a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich, of course!

Another is cheekily taking the chance to slide down the bannister on the Grand Staircase – something that even the royal children probably have never had the chance to do

One Paddington toy can be seen standing in the entrance to the throne room while still holding his suitcase, pictured

Paddington also took the opportunity to enjoy a little light reading in the Clarence House library. His title of choice? Paddington Takes A Bath, naturally.

And a little family of bears can also be seen enjoying the peace and quiet of its Morning Room besides a picture of Her late Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh with their ‘elevenses’ – a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich, of course!

The Queen was patron of the charity from 1983 to 2016 before handing over to Camilla, who was already its president. 

A Paddington Bear left outside Balmoral Castle, where the Queen died on September 8 2022