Paddington Bear has finally been issued a British passport, 66 years after he was first depicted arriving in London from “darkest Peru.”
The iconic character, created by Michael Bond in 1958, received the passport as a prop for the upcoming film Paddington in Peru.
However, despite the official-looking document, Paddington won’t be able to travel abroad.
Co-producer Rob Silva revealed that filmmakers had requested a replica passport for the beloved bear, but to their surprise, the Home Office provided an official specimen.
Silva humorously shared with Radio Times that under the “official observations” section, Paddington is simply listed as “Bear.”
The Home Office later confirmed that the document is a non-usable specimen, created as a prop for the film.
Paddington’s backstory, inspired by Michael Bond’s childhood memories of evacuated children during World War II, portrays him as a refugee from South America.
He arrives in London as a stowaway and is found by the Brown family at Paddington Station, where they decide to take care of him.
Bond once explained that Paddington’s label, “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” was a nod to children traveling with labels during the war.
The upcoming film Paddington in Peru, set to release in November, is the third installment in the successful movie series, with Ben Whishaw once again voicing the famous bear.
Paddington also made headlines in 2022 when he shared tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, further cementing his status as a beloved British icon.
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