Paddington at the Palace! Queen is introduced to everyone’s favourite bear as she hosts reception for young writers

Queen Camilla was introduced to Paddington Bear during a reception for young writers at Windsor Castle today.

Everyone’s favourite bear sweetly curtsied before shaking hands with Camilla, 78, as she hosted the finals of the BBC 500 Words competition this afternoon.

She also shared a heartfelt moment with a young guest during the star-studded event attended by the judges, finalists and celebrity readers for this year’s edition of the national writing prize.

The Queen, who has supported the prize since 2015, also welcomed celebrities like Rose Ayling-Ellis, The One Show stars, Roman Kemp and Alex Jones, and Sir Lenny Henry to Windsor Castle this afternoon.

Camilla opted for a black-and-white polka dot dress for the occasion, as she congratulated the 50 finalists chosen from a pool of over 45,000 submissions.

Camilla, like other senior royals, is continuing her public duties after the unprecedented arrest of disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor last week.

Yesterday, she joined King Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the largest gathering of royals since Andrew’s arrest.

His Majesty handed out The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education St James’s Palace on Tuesday, February 24, after he pledged ‘my family and I will continue in our duty and service’ in a statement following his younger brother’s arrest.