Cameo of Queen Elizabeth II in Paddington, Peru

Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Paddington in Peru

The newly released Paddington in Peru May leave London behind as the Brown family heads to South America, but the charming trio continues the painful British story. And before they embark on an adventure to find Paddington’s lost Aunt Lucy and engage in a quest to discover the Lost City of El Dorado, the sequel opens in London.

As such, many familiar faces return from the previous films to join Paddington in PeruThe cast is impressive, before the story focuses on the close-knit unit of the Brown family and newcomers played by Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas and Carla Tous. There’s also enough room for a number of cameos, including a specially approved – but somewhat hidden – appearance by Queen Elizabeth II.

The famous marmalade-loving bear and the Queen share an association that dates back to 1986, when Michael Bond’s “Paddington at the Palace” saw him visit Buckingham Palace. They didn’t actually meet in this story, but 20 years later, in a specially commissioned pantomime for the Children’s Party at the Palace on the occasion of the Queen’s 80th birthday in 2006, they finally met. And in 2024, Paddington in Peru confirms that the duo met in the Paddington cinematic universe.

Paddington, Peru, features several cameos

The best character in the franchise makes a justified return

In addition to many new and returning characters, Paddington in Peru has two unexpected cameos. First, Hayley Atwell appears as Mr. Brown’s new bosswho takes over his risk assessment company and requires him to embrace risk much more. She is an American executive, presented as a challenge to Brown’s very British sensibilities.

So in Paddington in Peru’mid-credit and post-credit scenes, Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan – the beloved villain of Paddington2 – appears in prison while Paddington takes his bear relatives for a visit. These are funny scenes, which confirm that Paddington’s relatives are also named after London railway stations, much to Buchanan’s astonishment.

More obscure is the brief appearance of Queen Elizabeth II, which was approved by the Palace after her death in 2022, as told to Variety by producer Rosie Alison:

“[The Royal Family] in fact, we were very glad it happened. But we don’t like to make a big deal out of it, because Paddington is obviously a very modest guy.”

Where Queen Elizabeth II appears in Paddington, Peru (and why)

Paddington’s visit to Buckingham Palace becomes an official Canon film

The modesty suggested by Paddington explains the discreet nature of Paddington in Peruthe special appearance of Queen Elizabeth II. This occurs briefly during the opening section of the film, when Paddington writes to Aunt Lucy about visiting her in Peru. The scene shows more of Paddington’s bedroom in the Browns’ attic and shows a photo of Paddington and the Queen having tea together at Buckingham Palace.

THE the image comes from the small sketch that was commissioned as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrationwho saw the bear and Her Majesty enjoying tea and their passion for marmalade sandwiches at the Palace.

The Jubilee sketch – titled “Ma’amalade Sandwich, Your Majesty?” – was written by Paddington The film’s team and co-writer James Lamont explained the special reunion:

“We knew that Paddington and the Queen held, and still hold, certain similar values ​​– the idea that, be kind and polite and the world will be right. It felt very natural that these two could share a space together. they would both welcome each other, because they are both cut from the same cloth.

“We also thought there was some comedy inherent in the idea of ​​Paddington, who we know is sometimes a bit clumsy and a bit of a bull in a china shop – placing him in Buckingham Palace in front of the Queen, where etiquette and behavior are obviously fundamental.”

The sketch was very popular in Britain and became an enduring image of the Queen’s final days, thanks in part to an image created by artist Eleanor Tomlinson when Her Royal Highness died on September 8, 2022. It showed Paddington apparently driving the Queen into the afterlife, and became a symbol of the nation in mourning:

Paddington in Peru confirms that the meeting at Buckingham Palace is canonical to the Paddington films, as well as serving as a moving tribute to the Queen, 2 years after her death.

Paddington in Peru has already been released in the UK and hits US cinemas on January 17, 2025.