"Hunt for the Royal Handbag"

Celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday with the world's best-loved children's characters, from Winnie the Pooh to Paddington Bear! In celebration of Her Majesty's 80th birthday, a festival of children's literature takes place at Buckingham Palace on June 25th, 2006. Costume characters, authors and celebrities will perform a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime show at the Palace. Two thousand children and one thousand adults will attend the show, which will be televised that evening on BBC 1. Performers include; Tracy Beaker, Paddington Bear, Mowgli, Winnie the Pooh and the Gruffalo as well as Mary Poppins, the White Rabbit, Captain Hook, Noddy and many more favourites of children's literature.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The Children's Party at the Palace will be a celebration of British children's literature, both traditional and modern, which we hope will encourage children to read and enjoy books. The day will also focus on the family and the key role that grandparents and parents, relatives and friends can play in shaping a child's love of books through the favourite stories that families pass down through generations. We hope this day will encourage children to explore new worlds through characters and their stories."