Why are British people paying tribute to the Queen with marmalade sandwiches?

Some mourners are leaving Paddington Bear plush toys and marmalade sandwiches as tributes to the Queen. Photo: AFP

From Balmoral Castle, where she died, to Buckingham Palace, via Sandringham in Norfolk – where the Queen enjoyed spending the holiday season – the residences synonymous with the long life of the British monarch are becoming places of pilgrimage for Brits and tourists who have come to pay their last respects to Elizabeth II.

Typically, they lay flowers in front of the gates of these royal residences to express their condolences. Children leave their drawings, while some onlookers leave the kinds of items that can easily be found in London souvenir stores.