The Queen engaged in a game of Pooh Sticks at the residence of the beloved character Winnie-the-Pooh. Camilla, aged 78 and a supporter of the Royal Literary Fund, paid a visit to Ashdown Forest today, the real-life setting that inspired the original Hundred Acre Wood in A. A. Milne’s timeless tales.
This visit commemorates a century since the first Winnie-the-Pooh book was published in 1926, introducing iconic characters like Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet.
At the authentic bridge from the story, she participated in a round of ‘Pooh-Sticks’ with three children who recently triumphed in a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed poetry contest organized by Ashdown Forest in collaboration with the Royal Literary Fund.
During her visit, she met Edward Kemp, the CEO of the Royal Literary Fund, along with children’s authors and illustrators such as Dame Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Jane Riordan, Sita Brahmachari, and Cerrie Burnell, to learn about the initiatives of the Royal Literary Fund.
Prior to the game, Gyles Brandreth, donning a Pooh sweater, recited a passage from The House at Pooh Corner detailing the origins of the game.
Using sticks from the garden of Buckingham Palace, they played the game, which was ultimately won by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. Camilla expressed her initial apprehension about the water level, but there was enough flow for the games to proceed.
She also took part in friendly competition with three winners of the Winnie-the-Pooh poetry contest: Yici Zhang, 10, from High Wycombe, Esme Coulter, 17, from Bath, and Miriam Mason, 70, from Banbury. Camilla praised them, saying, “These are the ones destined for fame,” followed by a light-hearted comment, “I have another shot at it.”
After winning a surprising third game against three students from St Mary the Virgin school in Hartfield, she remarked, “I’ve got the hang of it now.”
Esme shared her post-game thoughts, “It was enjoyable; everyone was quite competitive. I believe I came in joint third, but it was hard to discern, yet it was incredible. I have been practicing for this.”
Subsequently, she visited the A A Milne & E H Shepard Memorial to meet with volunteers and staff. Children from Ashdown Primary School lined the path, waving Union Flags in greeting.
Camilla inaugurated an all-weather trail named the Queen’s Walk and participated in a celebratory cake cutting. She also delivered a speech, expressing her delight at the occasion, stating, “I’m thrilled to be back in Sussex, my childhood home, and to relive the experience of playing Pooh Sticks, an activity I enjoyed as a child but never at the original location.”
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