Queen Camilla commemorates 100 years of Winnie the Pooh as she competes in sweet game

Queen Camilla commemorates 100 years of Winnie the Pooh as she competes in sweet game The Queen has travelled to Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, which served as inspiration for the Hundred Acre Woods, as she took part in a game of 'Poohsticks' The Queen allowed water under the bridge as she played Pooh Sticks at the home of the iconic character Winnie-the-Pooh. Camilla, 78, who is patron of the Royal Literary Fund, visited Ashdown Forest today, the inspiration for the original Hundred Acre Wood in A. A. Milne’s classics. The visit marks a century since the publication of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book in 1926 - with characters such as Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet. At the original bridge from the book, she played 'Pooh-Sticks' with three children who recently won a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed poetry competition organised by Ashdown Forest - in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund. She also met Edward Kemp, Chief Executive of the Royal Literary Fund, and children’s authors, and illustrators Dame Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Jane Riordan, Sita Brahmachari and Cerrie Burnell to hear about the work of the Royal Literary Fund. Before the game, Gyles Brandreth - wearing a Pooh sweater - read a passage from The House at Pooh Corner explaining how the game was invented. Using sticks from Buckingham Palace garden they played the game - which was won by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. Camilla said beforehand: “I was very worried about the water.” But there was enough flow for the games to take place. She also competed against three Winnie-the-Pooh poetry winners, Yici Zhang, 10, of High Wycombe, Esme Coulter, 17, of Bath, and Miriam Mason, 70, of Banbury Camilla said: “These are the ones that are going to be famous.” She then joked: “I’ve got another chance.” After winning a surprise third game against three children from St Mary the Virgin school, in Hartfield, where on a geography field trip, she said: “I’ve got the hang of it now.” Esme said afterwards: “It was fun, everyone was quite competitive, I believe I came joint third, it was hard to tell, but amazing. I have been practising.” She then visited the A A Milne & E H Shepard Memorial meeting volunteers and staff. Children from Ashdown Primary School lined the route waving Union Flags. Camilla unveiled an all-weather trail named the Queen's Walk and cut a celebratory cake, before she gave a speech, saying: “I've got a few things to say before I go. “First of all, how pleased I am to be back in Sussex which was my childhood home and secondly have the opportunity of being able to play Pooh Sticks again, something I spent a lot of time as a child playing Pooh Sticks but never at the original place." The Queen continued: “So it's the big first in my life to play on the proper bridge even to come away with a first at the end of it, having seen how the fast lane was. I'm thrilled to have this walk called after me. “I'm sure thousands of people will come flocking in Winnie-the-Pooh is a universal hero. People love him and his friends all over the world. I think now this walk is open. “I'm sure a lot of people come to Ashdown Forest anyway but they'll come pouring in to see this wonderful trail and to see Piglet's house which I've seen too, so it'll be a lovely experience to all especially children. so thank you very much for having me today. Thank you.”