HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Well, goodbye Paddy and sweet little Scout. That was a wonderful tea your Daddy put on for Us. We enjoyed it so much!"
PADDY: "You're very welcome, Your Majesty. It was our pleasure to have you." *Doffs hat and bows to Her Majesty.*
SCOUT: "Come again soon, Ma'am as in Ham!" *Gives Her Majesty a big little bear hug.* "I wish you could stay for longer!"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Ahh, We wish We could too, dear little Scout, but being Queen of all the Bears is a full-time job. We have many places to go and many bears to see. However We will return soon, little Scout. You do give the best big little bear hugs, and We do love them so."
SCOUT: "Gosh! Thank you Ma'am as in Ham!" *Curtseys.* "Let me know before you come next time, so that I can wear my best pink jingle bell tutu."
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "We will, Scout."
SCOUT: "And don't forget to drop in at Mummy Marian's house on the way home to Bearingham Palace to see mijn beste vriend Peter and Paddy's beste vriend Oleg. They are just coming home from a holiday in Germany with Mummy Marian and Jan, and they found a new friend called Funky, who was a poor, homeless bear, but now she is going to live with Mummy Marian!"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "We will Scout. We will enjoy meeting Funky. Nobear should be homeless! We will take tea with dear Oleg, and see what new dances sweet little Peter has for Us."
EMMETT: "Don't go, Ma'am as in Ham!" *Gives Her Majesty a big little bear hug and sobs.* "Stay here! Stay here and play with Scout and me!"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: *Gives Emmett a big little bear hug in return.* "Oh, We would love to stay here at Daddy's, dear Emmett." *Teas well in eyes.* "But We must return to Bearingham Palace, via Mummy Marian's, to see what Mummy has been up to! Goodness knows what I'll be coming home to, if she's had too many dubonnet and gins." *Looks knowingly at Paddy.* "She may well decide to abolish the Bear Monarchy!"
PADDY: "Come along Emmett." *Kindly.*
EMMETT: "No! No!" *Cries.* "Ma'am as in Ham!"
PADDY: "Scout is going to play hide-and-seek with you, Emmett, and introduce you to all the other bears: Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Rosie, Bertie, Algie, Danny-Boy, Orson, Cornelia, Flock, Sapphire, Pearl, and Freddy the fox, Duckie, and Prince Maurice of the Maileg Mice."
EMMETT: *Snuffles.* "Really, Paddy?"
PADDY: "Really, Emmett."
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Made by Merrythought in England, Emmett is a charming little bear, sweet and smiling, crafted from multi-tonal marl grey mohair and featuring golden velvet paws. He is accessorised with a classic tartan woollen scarf. He is number 23 or a limited worldwide edition of 200.
The Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Bear is also made by Merrythought in England, but was only available through the Danbury Mint charity. She’s hand-made from the finest soft blond mohair with a wonderful hand-stitched nose and sparkling blue eyes – just like Her Majesty. Her footpads are made from luxuriously soft cream velvet – one features the Queen’s royal cypher delicately embroidered in golden thread – and the other, of course, bears Merrythought’s iconic wishbone label finished with the proud boast, “Hand-made in England!” She wears a coat of deep violet, much favoured by Her Late Majesty, and a hat in the style worn by her in her later years. Pinned to her coat is a specially-commissioned brooch inspired by one from the Queen’s own collection – the Kent Amethyst Brooch. The original brooch, which formed part of a much larger jewellery set, was made in the early part of the Nineteenth century for the Duchess of Kent, who passed it on to her daughter, Queen Victoria, in 1861. In a similar style to the original brooch, the eye-catching hexagonal purple amethyst-coloured crystal centrepiece sits below diamond-white crystal encrusted scrollwork with rows of shimmering crystals beneath to create a shell-like shape. The Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Bear was issued in a strict limited edition. Not only was she made exclusively and only available from the Danbury Mint, but production ceased forever on the 2nd June 2023 ̶ the 70th anniversary of the Coronation.
