The Queen Consort is pictured surrounded by teddies in a new image released to mark the donation of more than 1,000 toy bears to the Barnardo’s children’s charity.
The bears – made up of Paddingtons and other teddies – had been left by members of the public outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in the wake of the Queen’s death last month.
The toys have been collected, professionally cleaned and will be delivered to Barnardo’s children’s services in the coming weeks, Buckingham Palace said.
🏷️🧸Take care of this bear
The Queen Consort is pictured with some of the 1,000 teddy bears that were left… https://t.co/VjGYHPo0NY
— The Royal Family (@The Royal Family)
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Camilla smiles broadly as she sits on a low couch in Clarence House’s Morning Room. She is wearing a navy blue dress with white stitches and clutching a Paddington bear.
This picture was taken on Thursday (64th anniversary of publication of Paddington Bear Book).
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee sketch in the summer saw the Peruvian bear visit Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea, during which the Queen produced a marmalade sandwich from her handbag.
It caused mourners and others to leave teddy bears, as well as some delicious treats, among the floral tributes that were left outside of the royal residences.
A Paddington bear soft toy and a card lay outside Buckingham Palace (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)PA Wire/PA Images – Kirsty O’Connor
In 2016, the Queen passed the patronage of Barnardo’s to Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall.
A tweet from the Royal Family’s official account, accompanied by the newly-released picture, stated: “Please look after this bear.”
It also included: “The bears have been scrubbed up to look their best ahead of arrival at their new home.”
Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Barnardo’s patron for over 30 years, and we are honoured to be able to gives homes to the teddies that people left in her memory.
“We promise to look after these bears who will be well-loved and bring joy to the children we support.
“We are incredibly grateful to Her Majesty The Queen Consort for her support in helping us to raise awareness of the needs of vulnerable children and young people in the UK so that we can continue to support them through our vital services.”
The crowd watching the film of Queen Elizabeth II having tea with Paddington Bear at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (PA).PA Wire/PA Images – Victoria Jones
Tom Jarvis, director for parks at the Royal Parks charity said: “Over the last few weeks, we have been looking for a fitting and appropriate use for the hundreds of teddy bears that were left in Green Park and Hyde Park to honour the Queen.
“We are delighted that the teddy bears will now bring joy and comfort to hundreds of children supported by Barnardo’s.”
Buckingham Palace stated that the teddies were being “well looked after”At the palace, Clarence House, and in the Royal Parks nursery at Hyde Park.
With the help of almost 200 volunteers and shire horses, the Royal Parks charity started collecting tributes from Green Park as well as Hyde Park late last month.
The toy bears collected then will join those left as tributes on the Long Walk outside Windsor Castle in being cleaned and donated to Barnardo’s.