Michael Palin calls for redesign of ‘racist’ knighthood medal

Michael Palin joins calls to redesign one of the Queen’s highest honours over a ‘racist’ image of St Michael and Satan.

Michael Palin displays his Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St Georgebefore he decided it was offensive.

British comedy icon Michael Palin has joined calls to redesign one of the highest honours bestowed by The Queen amid claims its image of St Michael defeating Satan encourages racism.

The Monty Python star-turned travel documentary broadcaster was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George last year but has now declared the image on the medal is “inappropriate and offensive” because it is reminiscent of the murder of George Floyd.

The knighthood medal shows a white Archangel Michael standing on the throat of a black Satan, who is in chains. George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his throat for nearly nine minutes.

Palin, 77, told the UK Telegraph that the Satan on his badge was light skinned, but he still supported calls for a redesign after seeing other images.

“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,” said Palin.

Sir Patrick Allen, the Jamaica Governor General of Jamaica, who also received the award, has said he will no longer wear it.

The Knighthood medal depicts a white St Michael on the throat of a black Satan. Picture: Alamy.

The medal has varied slightly in design over the years. Some iterations of the enamel badge depict Satan as lighter skinned but the majority depict him as dark. The Archangel is always white.

Nigerian-British singer Bumi Thomas told The Telegraph the image on the medal: “Is not a demon, it is a black man in chains with a white, blue-eyed figure standing on his neck.

“It is literally what happened to George Floyd and what has been happening to black people for centuries”.

A change.org petition calling for the badge to be redesigned has been signed by more than 16,000 people.

Tracy Reeve, who started the petition, said the image was “reminiscent of the recent murder of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal”.

The award honours those who have given important service to the Commonwealth or foreign nations.

Membership of the order is limited to 65 at any one time and it is mostly made up of diplomats and ambassadors. It has three ranks, the highest of which is Knight Grand Cross, followed by Knight Commander and Companion.

The Queen has occasionally worn the badge for official functions.