Paddington Bear has officially been granted a British passport, 66 years since he first arrived in London, although he won’t be using it for any travel. This quirky development comes as film-makers required a passport for the beloved Peruvian bear to serve as a prop in the upcoming film, *Paddington in Peru*.
Co-producer Rob Silva shared with Radio Times that they initially requested a replica but were surprised to receive an official passport instead. However, the Home Office clarified to the BBC that it’s merely a specimen document and cannot be utilized for actual travel. “You wouldn’t think the Home Office would have a sense of humor, but under official observations, they’ve just listed him as ‘Bear’,” Silva explained.
Paddington Bear was created in 1958 by Michael Bond, who revealed that the cherished character was inspired by his childhood experiences during World War II. “When I was small, I had memories of children being evacuated from London with a label around their necks and all their possessions in a suitcase, and this became part of Paddington as well,” he recounted to the BBC in 2017. “Paddington Bear was a refugee with a label – ‘Please look after this bear. Thank you,’ and he had a little suitcase.”
As the story goes, Paddington stows away on a ship from South America and finds a new home with the Brown family, who name him after the London train station where they discovered him. The successful movie series, which brings Bond’s books to life, features Ben Whishaw voicing the iconic bear. The third film, *Paddington in Peru*, is set to hit theaters this November. Notably, Paddington also made headlines when he famously had tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II during the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee.
