Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
I am sure most of you have seen that simply adorable and heartwarming video of Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear (below). Well, Paddington Bear wasn’t the only classic children’s book character to spend time with The Queen over Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee weekend! I had the absolute honour of illustrating The Queen and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
And I am pleased to announce that just over £1000 was raised for the DEC Ukraine Appeal from the sale of prints. Thank you to everyone who bought one.
Below is the original press release.
Award-winning children's book illustrator of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Queen's Hat, Steve Antony, has illustrated Her Majesty flying the world's most famous fictional car to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. All proceeds will be donated to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Antony, known for his award-winning The Queen's Hat, illustrated the first picture book adaptation of Ian Fleming's classic children's story, which was written by Peter Bently and published by Hachette Children's in 2020.
Steve Antony says: “What better way to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee than to race through the clouds in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And if Chitty Chitty Bang Bang should cough and splutter who better to check under her bonnet than Queen Elizabeth II, who trained as a mechanic during WWII. But more importantly, I hope we can reach the £7000 target to contribute towards DEC’s essential aid and help the displaced people of Ukraine, especially the children.”
Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, says: “Ian Fleming’s magical flying car is a beloved part of British culture, so it seemed fitting to celebrate this historic occasion by giving Her Majesty the chance to take Chitty Chitty Bang Bang out for a spin. We adore Steve’s artwork, especially The Queen’s Hat, and are proud to honour Queen Elizabeth II with this special design. We hope fans enjoy it and that the money raised for charity is also a cause for celebration.”
Author, Peter Bently says: "I hope you will be as delighted as I am by Steve's brilliant and witty illustration of Her Majesty taking to the skies in everyone's favourite flying car. Happy Jubilee, Ma'am, and hold on to you hat!"
Prints can be purchased from www.steveantony.com. More information on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang can be found at www.ianfleming.com
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a trademark of Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. Text copyright © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd 1964, 1965.
The 4th title in The Queen series is...
THE QUEEN'S LIFT-OFF!
The Queen's Hat was a windy tour of London. The Queen's Handbag was an impromptu excursion of the UK. The Queen's Present was a round-the-world trip on Christmas Eve. Now, The Queen will set foot where no man (or queen) has gone before!
More news coming soon.
Merry Christmas! The Queen's Present Now in Paperback
Launch at Waterstones, Cheltenham
The 4th book in the Queen series is now out in paperback!
The Queen's Hat is a windy tour of London. The Queen's Handbag is a wild goose chase across the UK, and The Queen's Present is a global quest for the perfect present! Each book features pages of famous landmarks and lots of fun-to-find details (like the butler, for example).
Below are just a few illustrations from each of these books.
Win Scottish Book Trust Book of the Month: The Queen's Handbag
Edinburgh Castle features in the book
I'm thrilled that Scottish Book Trust have selected The Queen’s Handbag as their Bookbug Book of the Month.
You can enter a competition to win a copy HERE.
The Queen's World Tour on Christmas Eve! First look inside The Queen's Present!
First, a hat-chase through London. Then, a swan-chase across the UK. Now, it's a race against time as The Queen goes global in search of the perfect present on Christmas Eve! The Queen's Present is out in the UK this October in hardback.
Guardian's Best New Children's Books
I am absolutely thrilled that The Queen's Handbag features in today's Guardian 'The Best New Children's Books' supplement, celebrating the 10th birthday of Independent Bookshop Week!
Books Are My Bag 2015 - Goldsboro & Waterstones Richmond
Books Are My Bag Day - a celebration of brick And mortar bookstores across the UK - took place last Saturday. I travelled with Hachette's Kat to two London book stores (three, if you count our meeting point: Waterstones Trafalgar, where I signed a few Mr Pandas and Queen's Hat & Handbag books).
Our first visit was Goldsboro Books, a treasure trove of limited edition, rare and very special signed books. Did you know that they were the only bookshop in the World to have signed copies of The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, who of course turned out to be none other than J.K.Rowling? How amazing is that?
Kat and I could've easily spent hours perusing in Goldsboro. I definitely plan on returning!
Then we took the tube to Richmond to say hello to the friendly staff at Waterstones. I held an intimate reading of PLEASE MR PANDA and the newly-realesed-in-hardback The QUEEN'S HANDBAG. And I did a bit of drawing too, of course!
Below are some photos from our day. Thank you to Goldsboro and Waterstones Richmond and Kat!
You can purchase a signed The QUEEN'S HANDBAG direct from Goldsboro. If you're lucky you might receive one (of four) with a 'sneaky swan' drawing inside - here: https://www.goldsborobooks.com/product/the-queens-handbag/
Me and Kat
Can you spot The Queen and corgi?
Selfie at Goldsboro's!
Making my mark on a big page of signatures.
Reading at Waterstones in Richmond