Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty
Green Park in London continues to fill up with flowers, cards and other tributes honoring the lateQueen Elizabeth. However, the Royal Parks organization has requested that the public ceases one well-intentioned gesture: leaving Paddington Bears and marmalade sandwiches around the garden.
“We are asking people not to leave marmalade sandwiches because of the negative impact on the park’s wildlife,” the charity, which is responsible for coordinating floral tributes during the national period of mourning, said in a statement.
Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty
The world recently discovered Paddington Bear andQueen Elizabeth’s shared love for the treat. Ina sketch airedat the opening of the Platinum Party at the Palace as part of her Platinum Jubilee weekend in June, Paddington offered the monarch a marmalade sandwich, which he says he keeps in his hat “for emergencies.”
“So do I. I keep mine in here,“Queen Elizabethreplied in the comedic bit, opening her ever-present handbag to reveal the same snack to her guest’s amazement. “For later.”
The surprise at the Platinum Party was kept top secret — so much so that even members of the royal family had no idea about it until they were watching it open the star-studded concert.Prince GeorgeandPrincess Charlottewere clearly amazed, smiling and gasping as they watched their great-grandmother’s interactions with Paddington onscreen. (Prince Charles, however, may have been clued in — his speech earlier in the day did reference a marmalade sandwich.)
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Queen Elizabeth and Paddington Bear.Buckingham Palace/Studio Canal/BBC Studios/Heyday Films via Getty
“Thank you, Ma’am, for everything,” read a tweet from the beloved bear’s account.
source: people.com
