How the Queen’s Paddington video mirrored her James Bond sketch a decade ago

The Queen’s Paddington video delighted fans at her Platinum Jubilee celebration and it reportedly had something very special in common with her iconic James Bond sketch.

• Her Majesty wowed fans with her Paddington Bear Platinum Jubilee 2022 video released to mark her 70 years on the throne.   
• Both the Queen’s Paddington video and her James Bond sketch are said to have come as a surprise to her royal relatives. 
• This royal news comes as royal fans praised Prince Charles for a deeply personal speech at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert. 

Whilst fans always knew that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were going to be something to remember and there was one aspect of the weekend that will go down in history for another special reason. Though some might still be wondering how long has the Queen reigned, she’s the first British monarch to mark 70 years on the throne. Over the years she has shared special addresses to the nation during challenging times, most recently when she declared, “We will meet again” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unlike other members of the extended Royal Family, however, Her Majesty has never given an official interview. Though the monarch has made a few rare appearances in sketches over the years. Now the recent release of the Queen’s Paddington video for her Platinum Jubilee might well have got people reflecting on her adventure with James Bond in 2007. And it seems there's a sweet similarity between the approaches to both of the Queen's sketches...

There’s nothing quite like seeing Michael Bond’s loveable bear character Paddington and the Queen enjoying tea for the Jubilee. Bringing together two national treasures, the Paddington Bear Platinum Jubilee 2022 video will also go down in history as one of only two sketches she believed to have taken part in. The other is of course her crowd-pleasing James Bond sketch with Daniel Craig shown at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games. 

Although very different in theme, Paddington and the Queen could be seen to have mirrored her and James Bond’s efforts in one very important respect - it was also reportedly completely unexpected by many of the royals!

As reported by The Telegraph (opens in new tab), the monarch’s Paddington bear Platinum Jubilee 2022 video was supposedly a surprise to some of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   

Watching the video on the big screens surrounding Buckingham Palace with their parents, the Queen’s great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte certainly appeared awed by the Queen’s Paddington video. The same could be said for some of the Queen’s grandchildren after watching her James Bond sketch. 

As revealed by The Mirror (opens in new tab), writing in his autobiography Lord Coe who was chairman of the London Olympics organizing committee claimed that when Prince William and Prince Harry saw their grandmother appear to leap out of a helicopter in the sketch, they shouted excitedly, “Go, Granny!”

Whilst Metro (opens in new tab) reported that members of the production team explained on BBC Radio Four’s The Reunion that Her Majesty had wanted it kept a secret.

“The Queen never told her family she was doing it,” production stage manager Sam Hunter claimed. “That was one of the stipulations when she agreed to be part of it but she didn’t want them to know. So if you actually see when she comes and she takes her seat, you can see her family go, ‘Ah, nice one.’”

It seems that with the Queen’s Paddington video she could potentially have opted to once again bring an element of surprise into the sketch for her relatives. Either way, both sketches are incredibly rare and historic moments in the Queen’s reign. 

The Queen and Paddington Bear video 

Despite seeming to take place at Buckingham Palace, according to The Telegraph (opens in new tab) filming took place over around half a day at Windsor Castle. Having been invited to have tea with the Queen, the clumsy but adorable Paddington Bear ends up offering Her Majesty one of his beloved marmalade sandwiches after making a mess of some Éclairs and drinking all of the tea.

Opening her handbag, the Queen then makes the delightful revelation that she too keeps a marmalade sandwich handy, telling him, “I keep mine in here”. After Paddington congratulates her on her Jubilee, Her Majesty replies simply, “That’s very kind”, and the touching video soon draws to an emotional close.

“Her Majesty is well known for her sense of humor, so it should be no surprise that she decided to take part in tonight’s sketch,” a palace spokesman said of the Queen’s Paddington video. “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.”

The Queen and James Bond sketch - in full  

Whilst the Queen's Paddington video might have been more gentile and heart-warming, her James Bond sketch was a little more high-octane. Even two of the Queen's corgis got to feature as the spy is greeted by the monarch at Buckingham Palace. Collecting her gloves and bag, the Queen and James walk down the corridors purposefully as they prepare to make a grand entrance to the London Olympics Opening Ceremony via helicopter.

Having arrived at their destination Her Majesty and 007 jump out of the aircraft, their parachutes slowing them down as they float towards the arena, the James Bond theme tune adding another touch of drama. Appearing in the arena in the same beautiful pink dress, the Queen then takes her seat with the late Duke of Edinburgh for the ceremony.

Just like the Queen's Paddington video, this wonderful sketch reportedly surprised her family and is another historic moment in her reign.