QUICK FACT
King Charles (then Prince Charles) celebrated his
70th birthday in 2018 by meeting children’s favourites Sooty and Sweep at a gala at the London Palladium.
He shook Sooty’s paw at the end of the night and also tried to peer into the box below the two puppets and asked Downton Abbey’s Jim Carter is there was anyone inside.
TOP SECRET: Jim Carter, right, was giving nothing away to the future king
later bought the rights in 2008 and brought Sooty back to the screen.
The only miniature OBE award ever made was specially manufactured
The actor replied: “Nobody, it’s Sooty and Sweep. Can’t give away the secrets, you know.”
for Sooty when Harry took the little bear to Buckingham Palace when he was awarded his own normal-sized OBE in 1976.
At the investiture, Sooty got out his water pistol and shot Prince Philip with it. The Queen is said to have found it very funny. Harry retired in 1976 after suffering a heart attack.
His son Matthew was working on ITV show Rainbow, but left to take over as full-time handler and presenter of The Sooty Show. Matthew still has Sooty’s miniature OBE.