Paddington bears left in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II get royal tour

The lucky bears got to roam Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

November 18, 2022, 11:57 AM

When Queen Elizabeth II died in September at the age of 96, thousands of mourners left tributes to the British monarch outside of Buckingham Palace in London.

Among the flowers and notes were stuffed Paddington Bears, the beloved character that became associated with the queen after they appeared together in a special video released for Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebration in June.

The late queen shared a friendly conversation with Paddington in the video, as they chatted over cups of tea about their love of marmalade sandwiches.

A Paddington Bear toy sits among the floral tributes for the Queen left at Green Park in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
LightRocket via Getty Images

Following the end of the official mourning period in the U.K., Buckingham Palace announced last month that the thousands of stuffed Paddington bears left outside the palace would be donated to a children's charity.

On Friday, the royal family released a new update about the bears, sharing a charming video of them being collected, cleaned and displayed by Royal Parks staff members.

Paddingtons of all shapes and sizes, in their signature blue duffle coats and red bucket hats, were also photographed traversing the numerous rooms at the palace as well as Clarence House, the London townhouse where the queen lived from 1947-1952.

"They have been doing some light reading at Clarence House," the video noted at one point, "and exploring the Buckingham Palace State Rooms."

Paddington bear visits the library at Clarence House in London, in a photo released by Buckingham Palace on Nov. 18, 2022.
Buckingham Palace via AP
PHOTO: Paddington Bear toys with a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich in the Morning Room at Clarence House in London, in a photo released by Buckingham Palace on Nov. 18, 2022.
Paddington Bear toys with a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich in the Morning Room at Clarence House in London, in a photo released by Buckingham Palace on Nov. 18, 2022. The Queen Consort will attend a special teddy bears picnic at a Barnardo's Nursery in Bow on Nov. 24, 2022, where she will personally deliver Paddingtons and other cuddly toys that were left as tributes to Queen Elizabeth at Royal Residences - to children supported by the charity.
Buckingham Palace via AP
Paddington bear visits the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in London, in a photo released by Buckingham Palace on Nov. 18, 2022.
Buckingham Palace via AP
Paddington bear on the Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace in London, in a photo released by Buckingham Palace on Nov. 18, 2022.
Buckingham Palace via AP

According to Buckingham Palace, after their royal tour, the bears will be delivered next week by Camilla, the Queen Consort, to their new homes. Camilla is expected to attend a "special teddy bears picnic" -- featuring marmalade sandwiches -- with children from Bow Nursery in London, staff from the children's charity Barnardo's, and the cast of the movie "Paddington," including stars Hugh Bonneville and Madeleine Harris.