Paddington as Grim Reaper

As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Family released a video featuring the Queen with Paddington Bear.

Artist Eleanor Tomlinson created an artwork in response to this with a watercolour of a back shot of Paddington leading the Queen away, hand in hand, which is the archetype for the meme.

The Queen died later that year and the image was reinterpreted as Paddington Bear leading her to the afterlife, with many people sharing the meme to indicate that Paddington Bear was the Grim Reaper.

The meme was expanded to other deaths including Paddington leading away Prince Philip, Coolio, Captain Tom and others.

Further memes were created portraying Paddington Bear as the Grim Reaper, including works by Jim'll Paint It and various other artists.