The Queen shared a light-hearted moment with Paddington Bear, asking him to share his famous marmalade sandwiches during a star-studded reception at Windsor Castle.
The event marked the final of the BBC 500 Words national writing competition, which this year attracted over 46,000 entries from children across the UK.
Camilla, the Queen, presented medals to the young finalists. The winners are set to be revealed during a special episode of the BBC’s The One Show on 6 March.
Following the ceremony, the Queen greeted the beloved 4ft character, brought to life for the Paddington The Musical on the West End.
Dressed in his iconic blue duffle coat and red hat, Paddington shook hands with the Queen, who thanked him for his attendance.
“Hello Paddington – how very nice to meet you, thank you very much for coming,” Camilla told the bear.
“You’re very kind, you are going to give all your marmalade sandwiches to all these children.
“Perhaps I can have one too?”
The bear gave the Queen an enthusiastic thumbs up to this request, and later guests were offered the sandwiches on plates beneath red hats.
The late Queen Elizabeth II famously appeared in a comedy sketch with a digitally animated Paddington Bear to mark her Platinum Jubilee, in which she revealed that she kept marmalade sandwiches – Paddington’s favourite treat – in her handbag.
When she died in 2022, mourners left Paddington cuddly toys and marmalade sandwiches outside Buckingham Palace in tribute.
Other stars at the event on Wednesday included celebrity readers actress Joanna Page, Peep Show actor Paterson Joseph, rapper Big Zuu, TV presenters Bradley and Barney Walsh and Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker.
DJ Sara Cox, who will host a BBC 500 Words special on her Radio 2 Book Club next week, also attended.
Joseph thanked Camilla for “all you are doing for literacy”, and added: “There’s been a big drop since Covid”.
The Queen asked Big Zuu if he was still cooking, and the rapper replied: “I will cook for you soon, one day.”
Bradley Walsh told Camilla her work with the 500 Words competition, which she has supported for more than 10 years, is “a wonderful thing”, while his son Barney said: “The creativity of the children is unbelievable”.
The Queen also met judges of the competition, including Sir Lenny Henry, Noughts and Crosses writer Malorie Blackman and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, whom she had previously sat down with at Buckingham Palace to discuss the shortlisted stories.
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