The Repair Shop experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, known as The Teddy Bear Ladies, were left speechless while restoring a stuffed monkey with a royal connection during Wednesday night's episode (October 28).
Former children's TV presenter Jenny Hanley brought the toy, named Alphonse, to the BBC show. It had once belonged to her grandmother, photographer Lisa Sheridan.
A Royal Photoshoot Prop
Jenny revealed that Alphonse had been used as a prop to keep young children entertained during photoshoots, including a young Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret.
She explained that the connection came about through a personal link: "A friend of Lisa's was working for the Royal Family, and everybody wanted to know more about them and the two princesses."
"Studio Lisa was asked to photograph them to introduce them more to the public, and they went along when the Queen was about 10. They were the first to take, what one can call, happy family snaps."
The monkey was used to encourage the two young princesses to look towards the camera while their photographs were being taken.
Restoring Alphonse
Jenny added: "When Princess Elizabeth became Queen, they were invited to take photographs of Princess Anne and Prince Charles, and this little guy was there."
After her grandmother died, Jenny inherited the toy, which had deteriorated with the metal framework beginning to show through the fabric. She was particularly fond of certain features, such as its eyes, and did not want it altered too drastically.
As the pair began their work, Amanda remarked, "I'm blown away by this," while Julie admitted, "I've not seen one like this before." They found minimal damage apart from the metal framework protruding from its hands and feet, prompting Amanda to craft new ones.
When Jenny was reunited with the restored toy, she exclaimed: "Oh, bless him, that's Alphonse, that's a healthy Alphonse. Golly, how did you do that?! Wow, you mended this beautifully. The family will be so pleased to see him and be able to touch him."
Describing the ladies as "brilliant", Jenny confirmed the toy would continue to be cherished within the family. The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
