Bob the Builder, J.K. Rowling and 2,000 children took tea with Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the monarch’s 80th birthday.
The grounds of Buckingham Palace were transformed for the day into a series of settings from children’s classics, including Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, Mr. McGregor’s Garden from “Peter Rabbit” and Thomas the Tank Engine’s railway.
Models were dressed as favorite literary characters — including Paddington Bear, Postman Pat and supernanny Mary Poppins.
“The day’s been really special, I’ve got to see J.K. Rowling and the queen and I’ve taken loads of photos,” said Karlie Williams, 12, from Ebbw Vale, Wales.
Guests were being treated to picnic food prepared by “Naked Chef” Jamie Oliver and a comic show performed by stars including actress Julie Walters and model Sophie Dahl — granddaughter of much-loved children’s author Roald Dahl.
The children, aged between 4 and 14, won tickets to the party Sunday in a lottery.
The queen turned 80 on April 21, although her official birthday, celebrated with the annual Trooping of the Color parade, is marked on June 17.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)