Queen Elizabeth II has delighted millions of viewers by appearing in a surprise comic sketch with Paddington Bear, revealing she loves marmalade sandwiches, and keeps an emergency stash in her famous handbag.
The monarch and the famous bear - both much-loved British institutions - met for a chaotic cream tea at Buckingham Palace in a special, secretly-pre-recorded sequence played at the start of the televised BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.
The duffle-coat wearing bear told the Queen how he ensured he always had his favourite treat on him just in case, lifting up his red hat to reveal his snack.
The Queen responded by saying: "So do I,” before opening her bag and declaring: "I keep mine in here”, before showing her very own ready-made supply of the bread and orange preserve staple, adding: "For later.”
Paddington caused raised eyebrows from a Palace footman by gulping down his tea from the spout of the teapot, and leaving none left for the amused Queen, who declared: "Never mind.”
The accident-prone bear was shown causing mayhem by accidentally spraying a splodge of cream from a chocolate eclair onto the footman’s face.
The bear, from deepest darkest Peru, congratulated the Queen on her reign of 70 years, saying: "Happy Jubilee Ma’am. And thank you. For everything.”
The modest Queen replied: "That’s very kind.”
The unlikely duo then tapped out the beat of the We Will Rock You anthem together on china teacups using silver spoons as a unique way of getting the concert under way.
With the two-and-a-half-minute film played at the start of the televised BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace, the novel duet tapped out the rhythm for opening act Queen + Adam Lambert - who joined in on the main stage.
The film was kept under wraps for several months by Buckingham Palace, BBC Studios and Heyday Films/StudioCanal.
It brought back memories of the Queen’s James Bond skit for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, when the monarch met 007, played by Daniel Craig, and then appeared to parachute into the stadium, with the help of a body double. – dpa
