Regatta unveils Charlie, the £250 royal teddy bear

A SPECIAL teddy bear has been created by Henley Royal Regatta in honour of King Charles III.

Named Charlie, the bear has been commissioned by the event’s committee of management in tribute to its royal patron.

Just 150 bears have been produced by British toy maker Merrythought, which is based in Ironbridge, Shropshire. They cost £250 each and are individually numbered.

The bears are a tribute to the King, who became patron of the regatta upon his accession to the throne in 2022.

The regatta’s royal connection dates back to 1851, when Prince Albert became the its first royal patron. Since then, the reigning monarch has traditionally assumed the role, allowing the event to bear the title Henley Royal Regatta.

Charlie the bear wears a bespoke navy blazer, which was designed in partnership with Crew Clothing Company, which is an official partner with the regatta.

He is wearing a miniature version of the stewards’ enclosure badge and is holding a pocket-sized replica of the racing programme. Each bear is crafted from natural plush, with details made from materials such as wool felt and cotton.

Every part is stitched by hand and his features, such as nose and smile, are embroidered.

Charlie bears the toy company’s signature gold-and-black woven label stitched into his right paw.

On his left paw, the Henley Royal Regatta logo is embroidered in gold thread.

Merrythought has been making teddy bears since 1930. Katrina Falinska, head of retail at the regatta, said: “Royal patronage has been an important part of Henley Royal Regatta’s identity for more than 170 years.

“To mark the gracious acceptance of patronage by His Majesty King Charles III, we wanted to create something that celebrates both this new chapter and the enduring relationship between the regatta and the royal family.

“Charlie the Bear is a charming and quintessentially British tribute, thoughtfully designed to capture the spirit, tradition and craftsmanship synonymous with the regatta itself.”

Sarah Holmes, managing director of Merrythought, said: “It has been an honour to work with the wonderful team at Henley Royal Regatta to bring this unique limited edition bear to life. Charlie has been individually hand-crafted in our historic British factory during what is Merrythought’s 95th anniversary year.”