Camilla, the Queen Consort, marked the centenary of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book with a visit to Ashdown Forest in East Sussex on Tuesday, engaging in a game of Poohsticks at the site that inspired A. A. Milne’s fictional Hundred Acre Wood. The 78-year-old royal, who serves as patron of the Royal Literary Fund, participated in the game alongside winners of a poetry competition, using sticks dropped from the original Poohsticks bridge in the forest. The sticks, reportedly sourced from the garden of Buckingham Palace, were released into the stream to see which would emerge first on the opposite side.

The event commemorates 100 years since the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh, a children’s classic that has captivated audiences worldwide. During the visit, Camilla also met with Edward Kemp, chief executive of the Royal Literary Fund, and several prominent children’s authors and illustrators, including Dame Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Jane Riordan, Sita Brahmachari, and Cerrie Burnell.

In addition to the Poohsticks game, Camilla unveiled a new all-weather walking trail named the Queen’s Walk at the nature reserve in Wych Cross, adjacent to Ashdown Forest. The trail is designed to provide year-round access to the scenic surroundings associated with the beloved story. Speaking at the unveiling, Camilla described Winnie-the-Pooh as “a universal hero” whose appeal spans the globe. She expressed her delight that the trail has been named in her honor, highlighting the enduring legacy of Milne’s characters and their connection to the local landscape.