Mourners asked to stop honouring the Queen with Paddingtons and marmalade sandwiches
Mourners coming to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II from all around the world have been asked to stop bringing gifts and artefacts other than flowers. The gifts in question? Paddington teddy bears and marmalade sandwiches.
In the wake of the Queen’s death, many people have flocked to Buckingham Palace and other royal landmarks to pay their respects to the long-reigning monarch.
Although some have gone for flowers or vigil candles, others have left Paddington stuffed toys and marmalade sandwiches as a nod to the special Platinum Jubilee sketch Her Majesty appeared in alongside the beloved fictional bear.
Party pooper—that is, The Royal Parks charity—has now asked that mourners stop bringing gifts and “artefacts,” saying only floral tributes should be left. “Any form of floral tribute is acceptable,” a message on the charity’s website reads. “In the interests of sustainability, we ask visitors to only lay organic or compostable material,” it continues.
That being said, it further notes that “cards and labels will be accepted and will be periodically removed by The Royal Parks’ staff and contractors for storage offsite.”
When it comes to flowers, visitors are asked to remove any plastic wrappings from floral tributes. Sadly, it turns out that even lit candles will not be accepted. “Lit candles will be extinguished and periodically removed,” states The Royal Parks’ website.
Like the rest of the Queen’s life, it seems everything has been perfectly organised for those wishing to pay their respects. The principal location for laying flowers is the Green Park Floral Tribute Garden—any flowers left at Buckingham Palace will be “sensitively moved” to the appropriate tribute site, the charity explains.
The news even made it onto BBC Breakfast yesterday morning, Monday 12 September 2022, where reporter Sally Nugent told viewers: “I just want to bring you a little bit of advice that’s come from The Royal Parks this morning. They are suggesting that there are enough Paddingtons and marmalade sandwiches in the parks at the moment, so please feel free to bring flowers, but maybe don’t bring anymore Paddingtons or marmalade sandwiches for now.”
Commenting on Twitter, one person wrote: “I imagine her Majesty having a little giggle at this,” while others suggested people could donate said sandwiches to a food bank or even give money to charity in the Queen’s honour instead.
