Queen Camilla Attends Paddington Bear Tea Party

• Camilla visited a nursery in east London to hand over the Paddington Bears.
• Hundreds of bears were left by mourners following Queen Elizabeth’s death.
• The Queen Consort led a fleet of cabs that delivered them to Barnardo’s Children’s Charity.

The Queen Consort, 75, visited a kindergarten in east London on Thursday to share some Paddington Bear love. She assisted in the distribution of hundreds of Paddington Bears and other cuddly toys left near royal residences by mourners following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September. They were washed and given to Barnardo’s children’s charity after being gathered among the flowers and other tributes, and she went to one of their nurseries to witness the handover.

Hugh Bonneville and Madeleine Harris (as Mr. Brown and Judy Brown, respectively) attended the party, as did Karen Jankel, the daughter of Paddington author Michael Bond, for whom the original stories were written. Bonneville read the children the story Paddington Takes A Bath.

Following Queen Elizabeth’s death, which occurred just a few months after she appeared in a comedy sketch alongside the animated bear during her Platinum Jubilee in June, the teddy bears became a touching symbol for her.

Camilla led a fleet of electric taxi cabs that delivered the bears to the venue in Bow, east London. They were brought in by the boxload.

As Camilla exited the party, she told reporters that the bears were “all gone.”

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The Queen Consort says the Paddington Bears have “all gone” as she leaves the nursery 🐻🐻🐻 pic.twitter.com/JUqHD9dFRp

— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) November 24, 2022

Camilla had a busy few days, helping to host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for her and King Charles III’s first state visit of the new reign. The first day culminated in a lavish state supper at Buckingham Palace.

The palace shared a series of adorable photographs of the bears having free reign of the castle and Clarence House, where Camilla lives with King Charles III, ahead of the ceremony. The teddies could be seen sliding down the majestic staircase bannister and relaxing on the velvet-covered chairs.

An charming video also showed them having their much-needed spruce-up before the festivities.

Of course, Paddington Bear was front and centre at the Jubilee when the late Queen surprised everyone by joining the famous book and film character in a hilarious skit in which the monarch hosted the bear for tea — and revealed what she keeps in her trusty handbag: a marmalade sandwich!

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