Simon Farnaby, the actor who appeared alongside Queen Elizabeth in the famous Paddington sketch, has revealed intimate details about the late monarch's health during the final months of her life. In a new interview with BBC Radio 2, Farnaby described the experience as "a great honour" and reflected on the Queen's condition.
Behind the Scenes of the Paddington Sketch
Farnaby, who played the butler famously splashed with an eclair during the sketch, said the Queen "was very hard of hearing" and that her secretary informed him she could only see around two feet in front of her. He recalled the moment she walked past him, saying "hello."
The sketch, which featured the world-famous cartoon bear enjoying a cream tea with the Queen, turned out to have taken place in the last few months of her life. Farnaby told BBC Radio 2: "It was obviously a great honour, to meet her and to do that sketch with her, with Paddington. It turned out to be the last couple of months of her life. It felt like an amazing farewell in a way. She was great."
A Touching Tribute
Farnaby previously spoke about his sadness following the Queen's death in an interview with The Times, saying: "Me and my wife teared up when the news came, like a lot of other people." He added that she had appeared exactly the same in real life as she had seemed on-screen. "I feel very sad, like everyone else, but then, you know, what an amazing life," he said.
Members of the Royal Family were reportedly touched by the marmalade sandwiches left outside Buckingham Palace by Paddington fans as a tribute. Prince William referred to the gesture before her funeral, saying: "It is the things you don't expect that get to you." He admitted he had been "choked up" by the Paddington figurines left outside Windsor Castle.
The Queen's Legacy
Queen Elizabeth died peacefully of old age on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, at the age of 96. She came to the throne in 1952 and is the UK's longest-reigning monarch.
