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.
Paddington Bear joins the Queen for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace – video
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.