Her Majesty The Queen has met Paddington Bear from the smash-hit West End show Paddington The Musical.
The Queen enjoyed a royal date this week at Windsor Castle with West End star Paddington.
The cause for celebration was the Grand Final of the BBC’s 500 Words children’s writing competition, with The Queen meeting the young storytellers.
The reception brought together finalists from across the UK for a day built around imagination, creativity and the joy of reading and writing.
The Grand Final was hosted by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp from BBC’s The One Show, and the six winning stories are set to be revealed in a special edition of The One Show on Friday 6 March at 7pm on BBC One.
A bear, a stage, and a brand-new musical moment
During the show’s recording, Paddington didn’t just pose for photos – he performed!
Guests were treated to a special musical performance from Paddington The Musical, with Paddington taking to the stage to sing “The Explorer & The Bear” from the show.
West End star Marisha Wallace also performed at the celebration.
A celebration of stories
As well as the presenters and performers, the event featured celebrity readers bringing the shortlisted tales to life, alongside a judging panel that included familiar faces from page, stage and screen.
Finalists’ stories are available online, and winning entries will also be published in a winners’ book produced by Oxford University Press, with illustrations from leading children’s artists.
Paddington and the Royals
Paddington Bear is no stranger to the Royal Family! Last November, Paddington met Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance.
Paddington The Musical performed at the fundraising gala in aid of the Royal Variety Charity. It was announced this week that the 2026 Royal Variety Performance will take place on Friday 20 November 2026.
Famously, Paddington also starred in a TV scene with the late Queen Elizabeth II, to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.
World Book Day is next Thursday – and the West End is ready
The timing of BBC 500 Words couldn’t be better. World Book Day 2026 takes place next Thursday, 5 March, and Paddington’s Windsor appearance is a reminder of what the best book-to-stage adaptations do: they turn stories we’ve loved on the page into unforgettable live experiences.
To mark World Book Day, we’ve pulled together a collection of West End shows based on books, perfect for families, book clubs, school groups, and anyone who likes their stories served with a curtain call.
Take a look at our World Book Day West End collection.
Savoy Theatre, London
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