Her Majesty Queen Mummy (the Mummy of Her Majesty Queen Lilibet, Queen of all the Bears) enjoys an early summer stroll through the grounds of Bearingham Palace.
QUEEN MUMMY: "Oh how glorious the gardens look!" *Stops to touch a tulip.* "How delightful!" *Sniffs a rose.* "Blissful! We must pass Our thanks to the Bearingham Palace gardeners." *Looks up at the sun.* "Hhhmmm... it's past the yardarm somewhere in the world, so We think it might be time for a tipple of dubonnet and gin: just a small glass of course!"
Suddenly, the sound of crying can be heard from a nearby flowering camellia bush.
QUEEN MUMMY: *Perks up ears.* "Is that crying We can hear?" *Listens more intently.* "Yes! Yes it is!" *Concerned.* "We must find where this crying is coming from! It's far too beautiful a day for anybear to be sad!"
Her Majesty Queen Mummy looks around, listening carefully as she traces the crying to a little multi-tonal marl grey mohair bear wearing a tartan scarf hanging from a camellia branch.
QUEEN MUMMY: "Goodness! Is that you crying, sweet little bear?"
EMMETT: *Snuffles and continues to cry.* "Y... y... yes."
QUEEN MUMMY: "But why are you crying, sweet little bear, and why are you hanging from that camellia branch? Don't you know it's dangerous? You might fall and hurt yourself!"
EMMETT: *Snuffles and continues to cry.* "I... I... I'm crying... because I'm hanging from this... this... branch." *Sobs more.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "Then why on earth are you doing it, sweet little bear, if it makes you cry?" *Puzzled.*
EMMETT: *Snuffles and continues to sob and cry.* "I... I... I'm not doing it... it on... purpose." *Sobs.* "The... the wind blew me up off... off the ground... and tossed... tossed me into this tree."
QUEEN MUMMY: "Oh my! That is rather tiresome of the wind isn't it!" *Puts paws delicately to furry cheeks.*
EMMETT: *Snuffles.* "Err... could you... help me down from here... please... nice green lady bear?"
QUEEN MUMMY: "Oh!" *Gasps.* "Well, this is a highly unusual request." *Sighs.*
EMMETT: "Snuffles again.* "It is?"
QUEEN MUMMY: "But then again, this is an unusual situation. I suppose We can." *Reaches up and grabs Emmett by the waist and lifts him down, before gently placing him on the ground.* "There we go, sweet little bear." *Pats him on the head.* "Now you are safe again."
EMMETT: "Oh thank you, nice green lady bear!" *Hugs Queen Mummy tightly.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "Oh!" *Surprised.* "We aren't used to being cuddled so much these days! Thank you!"
EMMETT: "You're welcome nice green lady bear. Do you have anything to eat? I have a grumbly tummy! Grumbly tummy nice green lady bear! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "Oh! No I don't dear. Hadn't you better be trotting along home to your Mummy, sweet little one? I'm sure she is worried about you, and will have a lovely supper waiting for you: a nice sandwich with lashings and lashings of marmalade or honey on it?"
EMMETT: *Looks sad.* "I don't have one."
QUEEN MUMMY: "Don't have one what?"
EMMETT: "I don't have two, actually."
QUEEN MUMMY: "Two what, dear?"
EMMETT: "I actually don't have three, nice green lady bear."
QUEEN MUMMY: "Stop being obtuse, sweet little bear, and tell me what it is you don't have... three times over." *Crumples brow.*
EMMETT: "Well, I don't have a Mummy, that's one, or a Daddy, that's two, or a home, that's three."
QUEEN MUMMY: "No Mummy, Daddy or home?" *Gasps.* "Then where did you come from to find yourself tossed by the wind so carelessly into Our tree?"
EMMETT: "Ironbridge in Shropshire."
QUEEN MUMMY: "Shropshire? My goodness! That is a long way to be tossed by the wind!"
EMMETT: "I come from a place where little bears with no Mummies, Daddies or homes stay until they can find new Mummies, Daddies and homes. My name is Emmett. How do you do, nice green lady bear." *Smiles.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "How do you do, Emmett. You have very nice manners."
EMMETT: "Thank you nice green lady bear. Would you like to be my new Mummy. I'd like you for my Mummy. If you don't get cuddled all that often, I'm happy to oblige. I like giving cuddles, especially if you can help fill my grumbly tummy. Grumbly tummy nice green lady bear! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "Well, that's very kind of you to offer, dear little Emmett. We shall have to see about that. Right now, you better come with me back to Bearingham Palace. I'm sure the bear cooks can find something nice to fill your grumbly tummy." *Offers paw to Emmett.*
EMMETT: "Palace?" *Eyes grow wide.*
QUEEN MUMMY: "Yes dear, this is Bearingham Palace in the centre of London, home to Her Majesty Queen Lilibet, Queen of all the Bears."
EMMETT: *Takes Queen Mummy's paw.* "Are you the Queen then, nice green lady bear?"
QUEEN MUMMY: "Well, that's a bit of a long story, dear. I was, but then I wasn't, but I still am, even though I'm not."
EMMETT: *Scratches head with paw.* "I don't understand nice green lady bear."
QUEEN MUMMY: *Leads Emmett towards Bearingham Palace.* "Well Emmett dear, you see I used to be Queen of all the Bears, but then my husband the King of all the Bears died, and my daughter, Lilibet became Queen of all the Bears, so now people call me the Queen Mummy, so I'm still a queen... or sorts." *Rubs temple with paw gently.* "Oh all this discussion is giving me a headache. I think I need a tipple of dubonnet and gin."
EMMETT: "Can I call you, Queen Mummy?"
QUEEN MUMMY: "Why yes, dear Emmett, you can, and I hope you will."
EMMETT: "May I have a tipple of dubonnet and gin?"
QUEEN MUMMY: "No dear, that you may not have, but I'm sure we can find you some pink lemonade."
EMMETT: "Thank you for saving me, Queen Mummy, and thank you for filling my grumbly tummy. Grumbly tummy, Queen Mummy. Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
Made by Merrythought in England, Emmett is a charming little bear, sweet and smiling, crafted from multi-tonal marl grey mohair and featuring golden velvet paws. He is accessorised with a classic tartan woollen scarf. He is number 23 or a limited worldwide edition of 200.
Made by Merrythought in England, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Bear is an affectionate tribute this most beloved of Royal Family members. Exquisitely designed and made in 2002, she is traditionally fashioned from the finest curled silver green mohair and pure silk, wearing a typical flower decorated hat both in a favoured shade of pale mint green. She has twinkling blue eyes and a gentle smile so reminiscent of the gracious lady born in 1900, and loved and respected by people the world over. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Bear is number 422 of a limited worldwide edition of 2,500. The two strand pearl necklace she wears are my Grandmother’s Mikimoto pearls.
