To kick off the Jubilee event, the Queen surprised millions of fans by appearing in a surprise comedy sketch with Paddington Bear.
The king and the renowned bear, both well-loved British icons, tapped out the beat of the We Will Rock You anthem on porcelain teacups with silver spoons as a creative way to kick off the festivities.
With 22,000 people in attendance outside Buckingham Palace, the performance is the centerpiece of the third day of public celebrations to honor the 96-year-old monarch’s record-breaking Platinum Jubilee.
The event, which is being staged on a purpose-built 360-degree stage outside the queen’s central London residence, features Motown superstar Diana Ross, who is playing for the first time in the UK in 15 years.
The unusual combo set the tone for opening act Queen + Adam Lambert, who joined in on the main stage, with a special, covertly pre-recorded funny two-and-a-half-minute segment performed at the outset of the broadcast BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.
In the footage, Elizabeth II and the digitally generated figure met for a frantic cream tea at ‘Buckingham Palace,’ with the Queen explaining that she shares Paddington’s fondness for marmalade sandwiches and has a cache in her characteristic handbag.
Lifting up his red hat to reveal his snack, the duffle-coat wearing bear demonstrated to the Queen how he made sure he always kept his favorite treat on him just in case.
The Queen replied, ‘So do I,’ before opening her purse and stating, ‘I store mine in here,’ exposing her own supply of the bread and orange preserve staple.
Paddington was seen mistakenly depriving the understanding sovereign of another cup of tea and splashing cream from a chocolate eclair over a Palace Footman, causing mayhem.
‘Happy Jubilee Ma’am,’ said the bear from deepest darkest Peru, congratulating the Queen on her 70-year reign. Thank you as well. ‘For anything.’
‘That’s extremely kind,’ the modest Queen said.
It reminded me of the Queen’s James Bond skit for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, in which she met Daniel Craig’s 007 and then appeared to parachute into the stadium with the assistance of a body double.
Paddington and the Queen were photographed in an extravagant parlor, sitting opposite each other in exquisite chairs at a table set for afternoon tea and draped with a white linen cloth.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen felt the opportunity to invite Paddington to tea was ‘too fun to miss’.
The Palace said: ‘Her Majesty is well known for her sense of humour, so it should be no surprise that she decided to take part in tonight’s sketch.
‘There was an interest in the filming and animation process and the opportunity to invite a famous bear to tea was just too much fun to miss.
‘While The Queen may not be attending the concert in person, she was very keen that people understood how much it meant to her and that all those watching had a great time.’
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