The original Winnie-the-Pooh, the teddy bear that inspired one of the most famous characters in children’s literature, will remain in New York. Although reports have surfaced in recent weeks of efforts to bring him to the United Kingdom, the New York Public Library has no intention of parting with its exceptional exhibit. The matter has drawn responses from local politicians, the British Embassy and representatives of the cultural world. It all comes in the 100th anniversary year of the publication of A.A. Milne’s first book about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.
The story of the famous bear began in 1921, when A.A. Milne bought a stuffed toy at the Harrods department store in London for his son Christopher Robin’s first birthday. The bear became the inspiration for the hero of books that gained popularity around the world. In 1947, Pooh, along with the boy’s other toys, went to the United States.
The collection was initially cared for by the American publisher E.P. Dutton, which donated it to the New York Public Library in 1987. Since then, the original bear, along with Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga, can be seen only in the Big Apple.
In April 2026, Queen Camilla visited the New York Public Library and brought a special gift: a new stuffed Roo, made specially for the occasion to stand in for the original toy, which went missing in the 1930s. As a result, the collection inspired by the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood once again has a full set of the most important stuffed heroes.
The discussion about a possible return of Pooh to his homeland revived after publications in The Washington Post and the New York Post, which described long-running efforts to bring the collection to the United Kingdom. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the Manhattan borough president, responded to the reports, stating firmly on social media that Pooh and his friends are staying in New York.
The British Embassy in Washington also addressed the matter. In a tongue-in-cheek statement attributed to an adviser on “bear-lateral” relations, it said that reports of an official campaign to bring the bear back were unfounded. The diplomats noted, however, that Pooh would always be welcome on a possible short visit to the United Kingdom.
British writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times that he had indeed held talks with library officials about a temporary loan of the historic toy. The idea was to display Pooh at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. Brandreth met with library president Tony Marx on the matter, and representatives of the New York institution even visited Windsor. In the end, however, the talks did not lead to an agreement. The biggest problem turned out to be the fragile condition of the more-than-century-old toy and the difficulties of transporting it safely across the Atlantic.
Editor: JŁ
