The Arrival of Emmett 2.

PADDY: "Welcome back to Daddy’s house, Your Majesty! So tell us, what is the nature of your visit, if this is unofficial business?"

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Well, the other day We came home to Bearingham Palace to take Mummy out, when We found that she had found a little bear lost in the gardens, and that little bear is Emmett." *Turns to Emmett.* "Say how do you do to Paddy and Scout, dear, like a good and well behaved bear."

 

EMMETT: *Shyly.* "How do you, Paddy and Scout."

 

PADDY: "How do you do, Emmett. I am Paddy."

 

SCOUT: "Welcome to our home!" *Smiles.* "I am Scout, and this is Dolly." *Holds up Dolly for Emmett to see.* "She is my dolly and I love her soooo much." *Cuddles Dolly.*

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: "So, Emmett blew in from Shropshire on the wind, and wound up stuck hanging from one of Our camellias at Bearingham Palace. He had a grumbly tummy after his long journey from Shropshire to London, so Mummy decided to bring him back to the palace and feed him. She suggested that We keep him, but as you know, being Queen of all the Bears, We are often away and therefore not at home. Poor Emmett is an orphan bear, with no Mummy, nor Daddy, nor home!"

 

PADDY: "No Mummy? No Daddy? No home, Your Majesty?" *Puts paw to mouth in concern.* "Poor Emmett!"

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Indeed no, Paddy! And he has a very grumbly tummy!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh I get them too, Emmett! All the time!" *Smiles.* "Grumbly tummy, Emmett. Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

EMMETT: "Grumbly tummy, Scout. Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

SCOUT and EMMETT: "Grumbly tummies, Paddy. Grumbly tummies, Ma’am as in Ham!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

PADDY: "Oh my!"

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Emmett is looking for a new Mummy or Daddy to belong to and a new home to live in, aren’t you Emmett dear?"

 

EMMETT: "Yes, Ma’am as in Ham! My new Mummy or Daddy will need to be loving and caring, kiss and cuddle me and keep me safe... oh and feed my grumbly tummy."

 

SCOUT: "Oh, well Emmett, our Daddy is very good at doing all those things!" *Nods enthusiastically.*

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: *Smiles. "And tell Paddy and Scout what you would like your home be like, Emmett dear?"

 

EMMETT: "Somewhere pretty with sunshine and a garden to play hide-and-seek in, especially if there were other bears to play with and cuddle, a place for tea parties," *Ponders.* "Oh, and lots of food to fill my grumbly tummy. Grumbly tummy, Ma'am as in Ham! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

SCOUT: "That sounds just like here! It’s lovely and sunny most days, and we are always playing hide-and-seek and other bear games. There are lots of bears who live here! And in fact, Daddy just served some elevenses in the dining room. Why don’t you come and join us, Emmett and Ma’am as in Ham?"

 

HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Oh, We do not wish to intrude, but well, We must confess that We do have a slight grumble in the Royal tummy."

 

EMMETT: "Grumbly tummy, Ma'am as in Ham! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

PADDY: "Please, Your Majesty and Emmett, do come and join us for elevenses. It will be quite easy to fetch two more cups. Come right this way."

 

SCOUT: "Oh yes! Come along Emmett! Come along Ma’am as in Ham! Let me show you the way!" *Skips and dances ahead with Dolly.*

 

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.

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