The Queen Consort can be seen smiling with Paddington Bear on her lap (Picture: Getty Images)
Camilla the Queen Consort has enjoyed a photoshoot alongside a large group of teddy bears.
A new photo, released by Buckingham Palace this evening, marks the donation of more than 1,000 toys to children’s charity Barnardo’s.
Well-wishers had stuffed bears outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in the wake of the Queen’s death last month.
The toys have since been collected and professionally cleaned before they are delivered to Barnardo’s in the coming weeks, a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace has said.
In a photograph to mark the occasion, Camilla is seen sitting on a low sofa in the Morning Room at Clarence House wearing a navy blue dress with white stitching, surrounded by toy bears.
The snap was taken on Thursday, which was the 64th anniversary of the publication of the first Paddington book.
The fictional character became synonymous with Queen Elizabeth II in September.
Many royalists held fond memories of the summer’s Platinum Jubilee sketch, which saw the Peruvian bear visit Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea.
Teddies adorned the gates of royal residences following the Queen’s death (Picture: Getty Images)
A Paddington themed tribute to the late monarch in North Tyneside (Picture: North News & Pictures)
It prompted mourners to leave not only teddy bears but also Paddington’s staple treat – marmalade – among floral tributes which amassed outside royal residences.
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 Queen ‘met’ with Paddington during the summer’s Jubilee celebrations (Picture: PA)
Tributes such as these were collected by volunteers last month (Picture: PA)
In 2016, the Queen passed the patronage of Barnardo’s to Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall.
Tom Jarvis, director of 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 said the teddies were being ‘well looked after’ at the palace, Clarence House and in the Royal Parks nursery in Hyde Park.
Late last month the Royal Parks charity, with the help of shire horses and almost 200 volunteers, began gathering tributes from Green Park and Hyde Park.
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.
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The Queen Consort can be seen smiling with Paddington Bear on her lap.
