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

FROM flowers and hearts to the British flag, letters and drawings, tributes to Elizabeth II take all forms, including the most surprising -- like teapots, perfectly in keeping with the catalog of UK clichés.

In front of the royal residences of the monarch, who died on September 8, people have even been leaving marmalade sandwiches! Here's why.

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.

Against all odds, some are also leaving perishable goods, especially marmalade sandwiches. This typically English preserve, which is high in sugar and devoid of fiber, is indeed an integral part of the culinary culture of Her Majesty's kingdom.

Whether for afternoon tea or at breakfast time, people in the UK have a taste for orange marmalade. But here, this quintessential cliché has nothing to do with these sandwich-shaped homages.

These tasty tributes are in fact a reference to another monument of British culture: Paddington Bear. A true embodiment of the British DNA, this furry Londoner is the star of a literary collection dating back to the late 1950s, later adapted into a TV series and then into movies.

The iconic bear, always with his blue duffle-coat and suitcase, was on hand to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last June. For the occasion, a short video was shot, in which Paddington shared a cup of tea with Elizabeth II.

As part of this endearing scene, the bear reveals that he always has a marmalade sandwich hidden under his distinctive red hat. In reply, the Queen confides that she too carries one, slipped inside her handbag.

This type of tribute may seem harmless, except that, in reality, the number of marmalade sandwiches being left is so high that the authorities managing London's green spaces have called for people to stop leaving this type of offering.

They are also urging well-wishers to stop leaving Paddington plush toys and to choose sustainable gifts instead. These can be organic items, such as flowers, or objects made from compostable materials.