The late Queen Elizabeth II is set to make a brief appearance in the upcoming film Paddington in Peru.

It is the third in the series of films revolving around the marmalade-loving bear created by Michael Bond, and the follow-up to one of the greatest sequels ever made – Paddington 2.

In the upcoming film, Paddington returns to Peru with the Brown family to visit his Aunt Lucy. However, circumstances take them on an adventure in the Peruvian mountains and the Amazon rainforest.

Ben Whishaw returns as the voice of Paddington, and he is joined by the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas… and the late Queen Elizabeth II, who will reportedly feature in the movie in photograph form.

It follows on from a skit the Queen and Paddington starred in to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 – just months before her death at the age of 96.

The decision to include the photographic cameo was made “with the consent and agreement of the royal household,” according to Ron Halpern, head of global productions at StudioCanal, who are distributing the film.

Rosie Alison, a producer on the film, told Variety: “[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.”

Elsewhere, Paddington was recently granted an “official” British passport from the Home Office. Rob Silva, the co-producer of Paddington in Peru, revealed everyone’s favourite bear had been issued a passport for his travels.

Euronews