This unexpected royal event became a defining image of Queen Elizabeth II’s historic reign

The once-in-a-lifetime Platinum Jubilee featured a spectacular Trooping the Colour, a flypast, a huge concert and a pageant that brought London to a standstill. But for many, the defining moment was a surprise put together by Queen Elizabeth II herself and which became a defining image of her historic reign.

When millions settled down to watch the Party at the Palace, on June 4 2022, they were ready for music, dancing and fireworks. However, what they found was a door opening inside Buckingham Palace and behind it was Queen Elizabeth II who just happened to be having tea with Paddington Bear. Their sketch, which lasted little more than two minutes, became one of the most memorable moments of Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign.

Paddington Bear’s relationship with the British Royal Family is not new. In 1986, Paddington at the Palace was published, following the little Peruvian bear’s adventures at Buckingham Palace. In 2022, Paddington became a lot closer to the royals, though. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in the first weekend of June featured several large-scale events centred around Buckingham Palace. That included a Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace concert on Saturday, 4 June, with 22,000 spectators joining members of the Royal Family on the Mall. 

The concert kicked off with a special video, with Queen Elizabeth hosting Paddington Bear at Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea. After Paddington accidentally squishes the cakes, he offers Her Majesty his signature marmalade sandwich, and she confides that she carries one in her Launer handbag, as well. 

Not only was the video sweet and touching, but it was also one of the last times that Queen Elizabeth II was seen publicly before her death. The late Queen kept the video a secret from all her family members so that it would also be a surprise for them at the concert. 

Upon her death in September 2022, thousands of Paddington Bears were left along with marmalade sandwiches and floral tributes on the grounds of Windsor Castle, Sandringham, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Buckingham Palace. 

The Paddington Bears were collected and cleaned by palace staff. After going on an adventure through Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, Queen Camilla donated the bears to Barnado’s Nursery in November 2022, where children could have a teddy bear picnic. 

One of the most enduring images from Queen Elizabeth II’s passing was artist Elinor Tomlinson’s watercolour and pen drawing of Her Majesty and Paddington walking hand in hand into the sunset. It showed just how emblematic those few moments with Paddington had become in her long and historic reign.