Queen Elizabeth worked with many people over her seven-decade reign but there was one collaborator who held a special place in her heart.
While a proud citizen of Peru, this very special visitor will soon become a British citizen but it was his help with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations that really cemented his place in the late Monarch’s heart.
Movie producer Rosie Alison shared this insight during an interview with 9Honey, where she discussed her new film Paddington and how its lead star made the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations unforgettable.
At the time, the 96-year-old Queen took part in a fun sketch, acting opposite the bear as they sipped tea inside Buckingham Palace—a clip that continues to be fondly remembered.
“Obviously, the Queen was a beloved monarch who bestrode her century, so that’s not going to go away, is it?” Alison told 9 Honey.
“And Paddington, with his wonderful heart, (his) sense of heartfelt sincerity was the right, I can’t say person, the right bear to be able to say thank you to her.
“And because he’s a wonderful antidote to any cynicism, his simple thank you did prove very poignant.”
While the Queen was known for her sharp wit in private, this was the first time she showcased her comedic timing to a large public audience.
“It’s true that he brings alive everybody he acts with and they all respond beautifully,” Alison said.
“You put anybody, whether it’s the Queen or Antonio Banderas or Olivia Colman or Hugh Bonneville or Emily Mortimer, they all shine beside him.”
Following the Queen’s death in 2022, many left toy bears and marmalade sandwiches outside Buckingham Palace as tribute.
Paddington 3 is expected to hit Australian cinemas sometime in early 2025. The third installment is titled Paddington in Peru, and will see the duffle-coat wearing bear take the entire Brown family on an adventure in his home country of Peru.