Queen Camilla Celebrates 100 Years of Winnie-the-Pooh in the Hundred Acre Wood
Photo: PA Wire
Queen Camilla visited Ashdown Forest, the woodland that inspired the Hundred Acre Wood in the Winnie-the-Pooh books, to mark 100 years since the first book was published.
On Tuesday 7 July, Queen Camilla visited Ashdown Forest near Hartfield in East Sussex, the woodland that inspired the Hundred Acre Wood in A. A. Milne's classic Winnie-the-Pooh books. The visit marked 100 years since the first book about the honey-loving bear was published.
Queen Camilla getting ready for a game of Poohsticks at Poohsticks Bridge. Photo: PA Wire
One of the highlights was the stop at Poohsticks Bridge, where A. A. Milne once played Poohsticks with his son, Christopher Robin. In the game, known from the books, each player drops a stick from the bridge and watches to see whose stick emerges first on the other side. The Queen joined in a game with the other guests.
The Queen and her fellow guests gathered on Poohsticks Bridge, several holding soft toys from the children's books. Photo: PA Wire
Children from Ashdown Primary School watched eagerly from the bridge. Photo: PA Wire
During the visit, the Queen also unveiled a new trail, The Queen's Walk, designed to make the forest more accessible for future generations. She met staff and volunteers who care for the forest, along with three children who recently won a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed poetry competition, organised by Ashdown Forest in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund, of which the Queen is Patron.
The Queen took her time greeting volunteers and visitors in the forest. Photo: PA Wire
Several of the guests brought soft toys from the classic children's books. Photo: PA Wire
A basket full of sticks stood ready for the game of Poohsticks, and one of the guests wore a Winnie-the-Pooh jumper for the occasion. Photo: PA Wire
The visit ended with an anniversary cake decorated with scenes from the Hundred Acre Wood and the words "Happy 100th Birthday Winnie-the-Pooh 1926-2026", which the Queen had the honour of cutting.
The Queen cut the anniversary cake in honour of Winnie-the-Pooh's 100th birthday. Photo: PA Wire