Queen Camilla Poses With Paddington Bear Toys Left for Queen Elizabeth in New Portrait
My heart!
![A Paddington Bear toy sits among the floral tributes for the Queen in Green Park. Many of the flowers were moved from outside Buckingham Palace while thousands of people also brought new floral tributes. Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8th, aged 96.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3eaU4Mm5zsFJwEsjsBg4J9-415-80.jpg)
Following Queen Elizabeth's death on Sept. 8, royal fans honored the late monarch by the dozen with Paddington Bear toy and marmalade sandwich tributes—a reference to Elizabeth's Jubilee skit with a CGI Paddington.
Prince William was even handed one of the plush bears during his walkabout in Windsor shortly after his grandmother's passing.
Of course, the sheer number of bears gifted in tribute meant the Royal Family had to do something meaningful with the toys so that they didn't just end up in landfill (while the younger royals may have been allowed to keep a couple of them, there's only so many stuffed animals one kid can handle).
The solution came via Queen Consort Camilla: The bears will be donated to children's charity organization Barnardo's. Camilla took over the patronage for Barnardo's from Elizabeth in 2016, according to Sky News.
To mark this lovely gesture, the Royal Family released an official portrait of Camilla posing next to a whoooole bunch of Paddingtons (but nowhere near all of them).
Sharing the photo to Instagram, the royals wrote, "Please look after this bear
"The Queen Consort is pictured with some of the 1,000 teddy bears that were left in tribute to Queen Elizabeth, and will shortly find new loving homes with @barnardos_uk children’s services. The bears have been scrubbed up to look their best, before they are delivered to their new home.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
"The bears are currently being well looked after at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and in the Royal Parks nursery located in Hyde Park.
"The photograph was taken by @chrisjacksongetty at Clarence House on 13 October 2022 - the 64th anniversary of the publication of the first Paddington bear book."
My heart might just explode.
A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)
A photo posted by on
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
'Too Hot to Handle' Rule Breakers Katherine LaPrell and Charlie Jeer Are Sexy Pair to Watch This Season
The two models have had a rocky road toward coupling up, but could they be in it to win it?
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Ice Spice Hits Back at Claims Taylor Swift Became Friends With Her for "Clout"
She's insulted by people's assumptions.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Bette Midler Swears the Secret to Her 40-Year Marriage Is "Separate Bedrooms"
She's been married to Martin von Haselberg since 1984.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and King Charles Have the Cutest Matching Friendship Bracelets
And fans think Charlotte was responsible.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince George Is Intentionally Being Raised Much Differently Than His Father Prince William Was, Even Though Both Are Heir to the Throne
“William still has painful memories of his own childhood and how he hated the persistent attention.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
In Naming Princess Charlotte, Prince William Poignantly Fulfilled a Long Ago Promise to His Late Mother, Princess Diana
Diana would be “over the moon” about it, her friend says.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Attending Sporting Events with Their Kids Is a “Much Needed Distraction” from Kate’s Ongoing Cancer Battle, Royal Biographer Says
“To say sports play a huge part in the lives of the royals is a massive understatement.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
After Meeting a Teenage Prince William for the First Time, Then Camilla Parker-Bowles Quipped “I Need a Gin and Tonic,” Royal Author Writes
Still largely known as “the other woman,” Camilla was “decidedly anxious” about meeting the future king.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Was Reportedly Advised to Sign a Prenup When He Married Kate Middleton 13 Years Ago—But He Refused
Thirteen years later, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage seems stronger than ever.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Apparently Made a Joint Decision Regarding Prince Harry As They Are “Very Consciously Focusing on Positivity and Recovery”
Though Kate’s health is improving, in her own words, she’s “not out of the woods.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Is “Genuinely Touched” by Everything Prince William Has Done During Her Health Scare This Year, “Not Just for Her, But for the Children”
“Their vows have never been more profound as they navigate this difficult time.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published