Disney Celebrates Winnie the Pooh & Queen Elizabeth’s 95th Birthday With a Surprise

BuzzJune 18, 2021

Imagine one fine day you wake up and realize you’ve received a unique birthday gift from your favorite cartoon character. Won’t that give you the feel of being on cloud nine? Well, that’s how Queen Elizabeth felt when Winnie the Pooh surprised her before her 95th birthday!

Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty | Disney UK celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday through a special Winnie the Pooh animation

On June 10, 2021, two days before “Trooping the Colour,” Disney UK released an animated special where everyone’s favorite, Winnie the Pooh and his friends, traveled to Windsor Castle to give the Queen, who turned 95 this year, a special gift.

As for what the animation depicted and Pooh gifted the Queen, well, don’t stress your brains. We’re spilling the beans right here.

A peek inside Pooh’s new animated film

In the 45-second animation named Winnie the Pooh and the Royal Adventure, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Christopher Robin, and Eeyore travel to Windsor Castle from the Hundred Acre Wood. After reaching their destination, Pooh gifts a large pot of honey from his private collection to the Queen.

He decorates the container by fastening a purple bow to its belly and attaching a handwritten note with the message ” To Queen Elizabeth” on it. Next, he enhances the look of the pot by tying ninety-five colorful balloons to the lid. In the end, when Pooh and his friends have said goodbye to the Queen and are ready to head home, Piglet gifts a small jar of honey to Pooh with a sweet birthday message.

It seems the Queen and Pooh share the same birth year. In October 2021, Disney will celebrate Pooh’s 95th anniversary since the bear’s first book was released on October 14, 1926. Ever since that day, Queen Elizabeth has been a big fan of the children’s book by A. A. Milne, and also of the illustrations by E. H. Shepard.

It might sound surprising, but this wasn’t the first time Pooh has met the Queen. Earlier in 2016, when the royal celebrated her 90th birthday, Disney had released a book named Winnie the Pooh and the Royal Birthday. That was Pooh and the Queen’s first encounter.

“An honor to draw for the Queen”

Kim Raymond, the current Winnie the Pooh illustrator, said he feels honored to have drawn for the Queen. He mentioned that drawing in front of the Queen has always been more fun than doing it alone. The British animator revealed that he’s been drawing Pooh for over 30 years, and throughout his journey, E.H. Shepard’s works have inspired him.

Dan Kitwood – WPA Pool /Getty Images | Winnie the Pooh illustrator, Kim Raymond, said it was an honor to draw for the Queen on her 95th birthday, which coincides with Pooh’s 95th anniversary

Raymond recalled that when Disney expressed their willingness to create a touching story for Pooh, who has been entertaining millions for the past 95 years, he couldn’t think of anything better than celebrating Queen Elizabeth and Pooh’s birthday together. He hoped that people love and enjoy the animated film just like he did while creating it.

Tasia Filippatos, a Disney executive, said that people have always loved Winnie the Pooh stories. Pooh’s theme, which celebrates friendship and simple pleasures, is something that attracts people even today. That’s why Disney has offered a new tale of the most loved bear to help celebrate his special birthday.