PADDY: "I’m sorry that there are only shop bought biscuits, Your Majesty. Had we known you were coming, we would have prepared something a little grander."
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Nonsense Paddy! This looks positively splendid! Anyway, as We said before, We are on officially unofficial business today. Your Daddy always puts together a wonderful morning tea."
EMMETT: "Grumbly tummy, Ma'am as in Ham! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
SCOUT: "Here Emmett! You sit next to Paddy and I will sit next to you, so that I can then also sit next to Ma’am as in Ham."
PADDY: "Please help yourself, Emmett."
EMMETT: "Gosh! Thank you Paddy and Scout!" *Picks up biscuit and begins to munch.*
PADDY: "So Your Majesty, what is this officially unofficial business that brings you here to our house?"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Well Paddy, We thought that since Emmett is an orphan bear and has no Mummy or Daddy, and no real home beyond the orphanage for bears in Shropshire, We thought that since Emmett is looking for a parent who will be loving and caring, kiss and cuddle him and keep him safe."
SCOUT: "And feed his grumbly tummy, Ma’am as in Ham! Don’t forget that!"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Indeed no, little Scout! We must never forget Emmett’s grumbly tummy." *Smiles.*
EMMETT: *Munch, munch, munch.*
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "And since Emmett is hoping for a home that is pretty with sunshine and a garden to play hide-and-seek in, and a place where there are other bears to play with and cuddle, and a place for tea parties," *Waves paw in front of her.*
SCOUT: "Oh, and don’t forget that there also needs to be lots of food to fill Emmet’s grumbly tummy, Ma'am as in Ham!"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Certainly not, little Scout! We must never forget that." *Smiles.*
EMMETT: *Munch, munch, munch.*
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Well, We thought that since Emmett cannot stay at Bearingham Palace, rather than send him back to the orphanage for little bears in Shropshire, that… well, he might live here, Paddy."
PADDY: "Here, Your Majesty?"
SCOUT: "Here, Ma’am as in Ham?"
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Well yes. It seemed like the best solution to Us. Would you mind if Emmett lives with you?"
PADDY: "No, of course not, Your Majesty! It would be a delight to have Emmett here."
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "What about you, little Scout? Would you be willing to help Emmett get to understand how things work around here, and play hide-and-seek with him, and cuddle and kiss him?"
SCOUT: *Claps paws in delight.* "Oh I would love that, Ma’am as in Ham! We will have sooooo much fun!" *Jumps up and down in seat.* "And you can meet mijn beste vriend Peter, Emmett! He is sooooo nice, and fun , and brave, and tenacious, and we have lots and lots and LOTS of fun adventures together!"
EMMETT: *Munch, munch, munch.*
HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Would you like that, Emmett? Would you like to live here with Paddy and Scout, and all the bears, and have Daddy as your Daddy?"
EMMETT: *Munch, munch, munch.*
SCOUT: "Oh say yes, Emmett! Please!" *Hopeful.* "We will have sooooo much fun together!"
EMMETT: *Stops munching.* "Really? Can I really live here with you Paddy and Scout?" *Tears well in eyes.*
SCOUT: "Of course you can, Emmett! We would love to have you with us, wouldn’t we Paddy?"
PADDY: "Well of course we would, Scout, but…"
SCOUT, EMMETT and HM QUEEN LILIBET: "But, Paddy?" *Hold breath collectively.*
PADDY: "But we will have to ask Daddy, first. It is his house, after all."
DADDY: "Well of course Emmett can stay and live with us, Paddy and Scout, if you think he will fit in well."
PADDY, SCOUT and HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Daddy!"
DADDY: “Hullo, Your Majesty." *Bows to HM Queen Lilibet.* "Hullo everybear. I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. I’d be delighted to welcome Emmett to our family if he would like to join us." *Picks up Emmett gently and cuddles and kisses him.*
PADDY, SCOUT and HM QUEEN LILIBET: "Hoorah!"
EMMETT: "Oh thank you, Daddy!"
DADDY: "Welcome home, sweet Emmett. I know you will like it around here, very much!"
EMMETT: "Grumbly tummy, new Daddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously, giggles and smiles.*
DADDY: *Smiles back and sighs contentedly.*
This beautiful nursery rhyme tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1930s. It features six cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated and feature different nursery rhymes including: "Ding Dong Dell Pussy’s in the Well", "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", "Old King Cole", "Pat a Cake Pat a Cake Baker’s Man", "Little Tommy Tittlemouse", "See Saw Margery Daw" and &This Little Pig Went to Market" amongst others. The set I acquired from England, and it is a sister set to a 1920s Shell China Company nursery rhyme tea set and a 1920s faerie tale tea set. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt spoons, and the sugar nips in the "Little Tommy Tittlemouse" sugar bowl are Eighteenth Century sterling silver.
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.
