Warning: This post contains SPOILERS for Paddington In Peru
The newly released Paddington In Peru may leave London behind as the Brown family head to South America, but the charming threequel continues the achingly British story. And before they’re thrust into an adventure to find Paddington’s lost Aunt Lucy, and find themselves embroiled in a quest to discover the Lost City Of El Dorado, the sequel does open in London.
As such, lots of familiar faces return from the previous movies to join Paddington In Peru‘s impressive cast, before the story focuses on the tight 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 stretching back to 1986, when Michael Bond’s “Paddington at the Palace” saw him visit Buckingham Palace. They didn’t actually meet in that story, but 20 years later, in a specially commissioned pantomime for the Children’s Party at the Palace for the Queen’s 80th birthday in 2006, they eventually did. And in 2024, Paddington In Peru confirms that the pair met in the Paddington cinematic universe.
Paddington In Peru Features Several Cameos
The Franchise’s Best Character Makes A Justified Return
As well as lots of returning and new characters, Paddington In Peru has two unexpected cameos. First, Hayley Atwell appears as Mr Brown’s new boss, who takes over his risk assessment company, and demands he embraces risk a lot more. She’s an American executive, presented as a challenge to Mr Brown’s very British sensibilities.
Then in Paddington In Peru’s mid-credits and post-credits scenes, Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan – the beloved villain of Paddington 2 – appears in prison as Paddington takes his bear relatives for a visit. They’re funny scenes, which confirm that Paddington’s relatives are also given names in honor of London train stations, much to Buchanan’s bemusement.
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Paddington In Peru Ending Explained
Paddington in Peru concludes the first live-action Paddington trilogy, telling a globe-trotting adventure story with big twists, laughs, and heart.
More obscure is the brief appearance by Queen Elizabeth II, which was approved by the Palace after her death in 2022, as recounted to Variety by producer Rosie Alison:
“[The Royal Family] were actually very happy for it to happen. But we don’t like to make a big deal of it, because Paddington’s obviously a very modest fellow.”
Where Queen Elizabeth II Appears In Paddington In Peru (And Why)
Paddington’s Buckingham Palace Visit Becomes Official Movie Canon
Paddington’s suggested modesty explains the understated nature of Paddington In Peru‘s Queen Elizabeth II cameo. It comes, briefly, during the opening section of the movie, as Paddington writes to Aunt Lucy about visiting her in Peru. The scene shows more of Paddington’s bedroom in the Brown’s attic, and shows a picture of Paddington and the Queen having tea together at Buckingham Palace.
The picture comes from the short sketch that was commissioned as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration, which saw the bear and Her Majesty enjoying tea and their love for marmalade sandwiches in the Palace.
The Jubilee sketch – titled “Ma’amalade Sandwich, Your Majesty? ” – was written by the Paddington movie team, and co-writer James Lamont explained the special meeting:
“We knew Paddington and the Queen stood for, and still do stand for, certain similar values – the idea that, be kind and polite and the world will be right. It just felt very natural that those two could share a space together. They would both welcome each other, because they’re both cut from the same cloth.
“We also thought there was some inherent comedy in the idea of Paddington, who we know is a bit of a klutz and a bit of a bull in a china shop at times – putting him in Buckingham Palace in front of the Queen, where etiquette and behavior are obviously paramount.”
The sketch was wildly popular in Britain, and became an enduring image of the Queen’s final days, partly thanks to an image created by artist Eleanor Tomlinson when HRH died on September 8, 2022. That showed Paddington seemingly leading the Queen to the afterlife, and became a symbol of the nation in mourning:
Paddington In Peru confirms that the meeting at Buckingham Palace is canon to the Paddington movies, as well as serving as a touching tribute to the Queen, 2 years after her death.
Paddington in Peru, directed by Dougal Wilson, follows Paddington Bear as he travels to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears. Joined by the Brown Family, they embark on a thrilling journey through the Amazon rainforest and the mountain peaks of Peru after encountering a mystery.
- Director
- Dougal Wilson
- Release Date
- November 8, 2024
- Runtime
- 106 Minutes
Paddington In Peru is out now in the UK, and lands in US cinemas on January 17, 2025.