Michael Palin Supports Calls for Redesign of Queen's 'Racist' Knighthood Medal

The Monty Python star agrees with many people who take issue with the image of a white Angel stepping on the throat of a black Satan depicted in the knighthood medal.

AceShowbiz –
Michael Palin has backed calls for a badge he received with his knighthood last year (19) to be redesigned due to its racist connotations.

The Monty Python star-turned travel broadcaster and writer was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George – which often comes with a badge featuring a white Archangel Michael standing on the throat of a black Satan in chains.

The scene depicted on the medal has prompted another recipient, Patrick Allen, the Governor General of Jamaica to say he will no longer wear it due to its “degradation of people of colour” – after he received complaints about its similarity to the harrowing images of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May.

Speaking to Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Palin said that although his own medal has a slightly different image, he backs Allen’s calls for a change.

“Though the image on my award is of a white Satan being vanquished, I think that depicted is inappropriate and offensive and I would back the governor-general of Jamaica’s call for it to be redesigned,” he stated.

The design of the enamel badge has varied over the years, with some showing Satan as light skinned but a majority showing a figure with a darker skin tone. The award, which is only given to 65 people at one time, honours service to the British Commonwealth or foreign nations.