Paddington Bear was the secret special guest for the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations on Saturday night, appearing alongside the monarch in a sweet-natured video segment.
Just as she did at the 2012 London Olympics, when she appeared with Daniel Craig’s James Bond in a pre-recorded video, the Queen proved a good sport as she acted alongside the CGI bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, who joined her at Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea.
After patiently tolerating a tea-slurping Paddington, who in typical slapstick fashion covers a footman in cream from a pastry, the Queen reveals that she has stashed a marmalade sandwich in the royal handbag: “I keep mine in here, for later,” she confides to Paddington.
After his appearance, Paddington tweeted:
If we're kind and polite, the world will be right. Thank you.
— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) June 4, 2022
The video introduced the Platinum Party at the Palace, a showpiece event in the platinum jubilee celebrations.
In a neat segue with the Queen and Paddington clinking out its martial drum beat with teaspoons, Queen – the rock band – opened the show with We Will Rock You, with Brian May playing a guitar solo in front of a statue of Queen Victoria, teeing up performances by Diana Ross, Rod Stewart and more.
