A sweet sketch referencing the Queen's surprise tea with Paddington Bear has taken the world by storm.
Artist Eleanor Tomlinson was among the millions of spectators watching the Platinum Party at the Palace on June 4, a major event in the four-day celebration of the Queen's 70-year reign.
It opened with a heartwarming short film showing the Queen sharing tea with Paddington, discussing the benefits of having marmalade sandwiches on standby and then tapping out the beat to Queen’s We Will Rock You with teaspoons on their cups and saucers, Hull Live writes.
Eleanor, from Yorkshire, had her pens and paints with her on a break with her mum and, while Sunday’s Platinum Pageant was under way, she decided to sketch out a design “as a bit of fun” to mark the end of the Jubilee commemoration, just before the monarch stepped out on to the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
Entitled Jubilee Ma’amalade Tea, it showcases a back view of the Queen, hand in hand with Paddington, and one of her trusty corgis trailing along a length of red, white and blue bunting, as though they are walking away after the festivities, a marmalade sandwich left on the ground in their wake.
“It didn’t cross my mind at all that this would be picked up like it has been,” said Eleanor, of Willerby, who runs Eleanor Tomlinson Art.
“I think the film of the Queen with Paddington was my highlight of the Jubilee and for me captured every aspect of why we love our dear Queen. She takes her job seriously but not herself.
“It only took me a couple of hours from sketching it out to finishing the design – when the Queen came out onto the balcony dressed in that beautiful vivid green, I had to have that.”
As soon as she posted the image of her creation on social media, at about 6.30pm on Sunday night, Eleanor’s website went into overdrive, seemingly having resonated very deeply with people.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “The response has been overwhelming. It was never my intention for it to be a print or a card for sale.”
After one of Eleanor’s regular collectors asked for the original, the artist decided to offer 70 signed and numbered limited edition prints – they all sold out in under 50 minutes.
She is now at the stage of offering a pre-order unlimited open edition print run and has “hundreds” of requests to come back to this week.
“My phone hasn’t stopped pinging, I can’t keep up with it,” she said.
“The reaction has been so positive and lovely, it’s the best problem to have as an artist. It’s all you ever dream of, putting something out there that people take to their hearts and show their love and support for.
“I always take my pens and paints with me when I can, apart from a day out, because you can bet your life that, if I don’t have them, I’ll want to pick them up. I sat on the sofa and sketched the design out on my knee, then moved to a little table to finish it with my watercolours.
“I think because I didn’t intend it for sale and it wasn’t a commission or anything, it has a certain quality to it, it’s looser and more personal somehow. I’ve had so many messages about it, I am really grateful to everybody.”
One follower on Twitter said: “What a beautiful tribute to HMTQ. I’m still in Jubilee mode and I’m across the pond. It was an amazing experience, once in a lifetime. I’ll miss waking up early to watch the celebrations.”
Another said: “Fabulous drawing and colours, it's such a wonderful end of a fabulous weekend”. A third added: “Goodness. Talk about making my heart ache.”
One post said: “This artwork should be put on a postage stamp! It's brilliant and lovely”. Another said: “Omg, how poignant, I love it.”
Another tweet read: “That encapsulates the balance between reigning monarch and human being. Perfect. #ThanksForSharing.”
Eleanor said she hoped her customers would be pleased to know how much they are supporting East Yorkshire people with their orders.
“I am a one-woman band, from the art to the packing; my printer is 10 minutes down the road in Cottingham and my card and paper is manufactured by G F Smith’s in Hull. People are supporting businesses of all sizes in this area, which is wonderful.”
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