Since Queen Elizabeth II passed away last Thursday, mourners in the U.K. have been leaving interesting offerings at Royal Parks: marmalade sandwiches and Paddington bears.
However, the Royal Parks charitable organization that maintains London’s eight royal parks this week asked people not to leave any more sandwiches.
“They are suggesting that there enough Paddigtons and marmalade sandwiches at the parks at the moment,” said BBC Breakfast reporter Sally Nugent.
Paddington bear – named after Paddington station in London – is a British character that has entertained audiences in various formats since the 1950s. He is known for being fond of marmalade sandwiches.
As part of the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, the Royal Family posted a video of the monarch meeting with a computer-animated Paddington for tea. While the meeting got a bit messy, the two bonded over marmalade sandwiches. Paddington kept his sandwich under his hat and Queen Elizabeth kept hers in her purse.
While the tributes – which lay beside flowers at Green Park and Hyde Park – are an endearing callback to the video, they could also pose a public health risk.
“The inextricable link between litter and pests is clear. More rubbish, particularly food stuffs, supports the emergence of pests, particularly rodent infestations,” said Dee Ward-Thompson, technical manager of the British Pest Control Association. “It’s not just an environmental matter, but a public health issue. Rats in particular carry many diseases which can be easily spread to humans through their urine, including Toxoplasmosis and Weil’s Disease.”
Indeed, the Royal Parks guidance page for leaving flowers says that “we would prefer visitors not to bring non-floral objects/artefacts such as teddy bears or balloons.” Cards will be accepted, but periodically removed by parks staff.
“This process will be carried out with discretion and sensitivity,” said the Royal Parks.
Green Park, Hyde Park and St. James Park will play a key role in the queen’s funeral processions this week. Queen Elizabeth II was 96 years old and, with 70 years and 214 days as queen, the longest reigning monarch of Britain as well as the longest serving female head of state in recorded history.
Mourners can leave flowers for the queen in designated areas.
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