Yahoo Movies How Paddington 3 pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Bond
Paddington in Peru honours the memory of two important people from the marmalade-loving bear's life.
The Paddington movies pay tribute to two figures who have had an important part in the talking bear's life: Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Bond.
Paddington was created by Bond back in 1958 with the children's book A Bear Called Paddington, and the author died in 2017 aged 91. The late monarch, meanwhile, filmed a sweet sketch for her Platinum Jubilee party in June 2022 which saw her enjoy tea and a marmalade sandwich with Paddington, Queen Elizabeth II died in September that year at the age of 96.
The newest film in the franchise, Paddington in Peru, makes sure to pay tribute to both the Queen and Bond in the narrative, something which has drawn a lot of attention ahead of its theatrical release.
How does Paddington in Peru pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II?
Much has been made of Paddington in Peru's inclusion of Queen Elizabeth II, but the moment itself is rather small in comparison to the talk that is around it. The tribute is simply a framed photograph of the late Queen and Paddington together, taken from the aforementioned Platinum Party sketch.
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In an interview with Variety Ron Halpern, head of global productions at France's Studiocanal, said that the film's team was given "the consent and agreement of the royal household" to include the photograph.
Producer Rosie Alison also told the publication: "[The royal family] were actually very happy for it to happen. But we don't like to make a big deal of it, because Paddington's obviously a very modest fellow."
How does Paddington creator Michael Bond get given a tribute in Paddington in Peru?
Bond is given a surprising tribute in the third film, in a similar way to the late Queen's cameo it is small and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. Bond features on a stamp that is affixed to a letter given to Paddington, which tells him of his Aunt Lucy's current struggle in Peru that leads him to travel home.
Bond appeared in the very first Paddington movie, which was released in 2014, where he is seen sitting at a cafe as the marmalade-loving bear travels in a taxi with the Brown family. Bond lifts his glass to Paddington, who returns the gesture in a sweet yet subtle celebration of the author's work.
At the time, the author told BBC Radio 4: "It was a night-time shoot — I am sitting in a restaurant on my own by the window when Paddington goes past in a black taxi. He's just arrived in London for the first time and is going back with the Browns to their house. I catch his eye as he goes past and raise a glass to him."
The author died in June 2017, and the second film in the franchise which came out in November that year is dedicated to his memory.
Paddington in Peru premieres in cinemas on Friday, 8 November.
