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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Bradley Jolly

Queen shot Paddington sketch in single take and hit back when asked to 'go again'

Queen Elizabeth II completed the Paddington sketch in a single take - and hit back at the director who asked her to have another attempt.

The monarch starred in a fun sketch alongside Paddington Bear to mark the start of her jubilee celebrations last year as she celebrated her historic 70-year reign.

Simon Farnaby, who played a footman in the sketch, praised the late Majesty after the clip won the memorable moment TV BAFTA award at the weekend.

He said: "I was amazed. Our director worked really hard to get her performance. They'd go, 'Can you just do it again?'. And she’d go, 'I thought I was pretty good'. Credit to him for getting that performance out of her.

Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear had cream tea together (BUCKINGHAM PALACE/AFP via Getty)

"We were there all day. It was a long day for an old lady. But she loved it. She really wanted to do it. She said, 'Have as much time as you need'."

The Queen and Paddington's comic sketch was believed to have been filmed at Buckingham Palace, but Mr Farnaby also revealed it actually took place at Windsor Castle, where Elizabeth II spent a lot of her time.

The monarch died aged 96 in September last year, just months after the sketch's release.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr Farnaby continued: "The person who most deserve this award is no longer with us, we can only accept it on her behalf and say 'Thank you, ma'am, for everything."

The monarch completed the sketch in one single take (BBC)

Ben Whishaw, who voiced Paddington in the films, also appeared on stage to receive the award. In the plot, his character visited Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea and the Queen produced a marmalade sandwich from her handbag.

After the Queen's death in September, mourners left teddy bears and marmalade sandwiches among the floral tributes which amassed outside royal residences.

Within four days though, the Royal Parks charity, which managed the official tribute site in Green Park, asked mourners not to leave Paddington Bear toys, marmalade sandwiches, lit candles or unwrapped flowers due to safety and wildlife concerns.

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