Cabinet Office says recipients of Queen's 'racist' knighthood honour can exchange award for updated design after backlash over insignia showing St Michael crushing the devil that 'looks like George Floyd's murder'
The Cabinet Office has said recipients of the Queen's 'racist' knighthood honour can exchange the award for an updated design after after a petition was launched claiming its insignia is 'racist' and 'looks similar to George Floyd's killing'.
The insignia for the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George - one of the Queen's highest honours - once featured a picture of a white angel standing on the neck of a black man.
The image, which was changed in 2011 to feature a light-skinned devil, is actually a depiction of the Archangel Michael defeating Satan.
But a new petition says the redesign doesn't go far enough - and wants it to be completely overhauled.
Monty Python star Sir Michael Palin was among those who had called for the honour to be changed once again after seeing its original incarnation.
In response to a question from MailOnline, the Cabinet Office said on Wednesday that people who received the honour before it was updated in 2011 can exchange it for a newer one.
The Cabinet Office has said recipients of the Queen's 'racist' knighthood honour can exchange the award for an updated design after after a petition was launched claiming its insignia is 'racist' and 'looks similar to George Floyd 's killing'. Pictured: The old design for the star insignia give to those appointed to the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
The insignia for the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George - one of the Queen's highest honours - once featured a picture of a white angel standing on the neck of a black man but was updated in 2011. Pictured: The new design
A spokesman said: 'I can confirm that yes, honours recipients can request to exchange their pre-2011 insignia for one displaying the updated (post-2011) design.'
Sir Michael was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St George and St Michael in 2019 for services to travel, culture and geography and has the new version of the honour.
The petition calling for the honour's overhaul claims the insignia still conjures racist imagery and bears a resemblance to the death of black man George Floyd.
He died in May after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost eight minutes as he was being arrested.
The Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, who received the award in 2009 has the old design - and has said he will no longer wear the insignia, reports the Telegraph.
Sir Michael said although his honour features the updated drawing, he backs calls for a redesign after seeing its previous incarnation.
He told the Telegraph: 'Though the image on my award is of a white Satan being vanquished, I think that depiction is inappropriate and offensive and I would back the Governor-General of Jamaica's call for it to be re-designed.'
Sir Michael Palin (pictured), who was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St George and St Michael in 2019 for 'services to travel, culture and geography', has now backed calls to change the design - his honour features the new design
Governor General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen received the award in 2009, meaning his honour would feature the old design
The Cabinet Office says the premise of the petition is 'inaccurate' because the picture was redesigned nine years ago and now features a light-skinned devil, while those who wish to exchange their pre-2011 insignia can request to, a spokesperson added.
On the decision to not wear the honour, a spokesperson for the Governor-General of Jamaica told the Telegraph: 'This follows concerns raised by citizens over the image on the medal, and the growing global rejection of the use of objects that normalise the continued degradation of people of colour.'
Sir Patrick received the award in 2009, meaning his honour would feature the old design.
The Order of St Michael and St George is awarded by the Queen to ambassadors and diplomats for distinguished service.
It is the sixth most senior in the honours system after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, The Most Honourable Order of the Bath and The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.
An image on the badge shows St Michael trampling on a prostrate Satan, but campaigners say it looks like the recent killing of Mr Floyd.
An online petition calling for the redesign of the badge on the honour – founded in 1818 after the Napoleonic wars – has attracted more than 16,000 signatures.
The change.org petition, started by Tracy Reeve, says: 'This is a highly offensive image. It is also reminiscent of the recent killing of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal.
'We are calling for this medal to be completely redesigned in a more appropriate way and for an official apology to be given.'
Bumi Thomas, a British-Nigerian activist, told The Guardian that the image on the badge was of 'a black man in chains with a white, blue-eyed figure standing on his neck'.
She added: 'It is literally what happened to George Floyd and what has been happening to black people for centuries under the guise of diplomatic missions – active, subliminal messaging that reinforces the conquest, subjugation and dehumanisation of people of colour.'
Although Sir Michael (pictured being knighted by Prince William in 2019) said his honour features the new badge, the comedian and television presenter has backed calls for a redesign after seeing other examples
Sir Patrick Allen (pictured receiving the award from the Queen in 2009) has said he will no longer wear the insignia and called for it to be redesigned
Sir Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said: 'The original image may have been of St Michael slaying Satan, but the figure has no horns or tail and is clearly a black man.'
However the Cabinet Office, who are responsible for the design of the honour, said the premise of the petition was 'inaccurate'.
A government spokesperson said: 'The premise of this petition is factually incorrect – the insignia for the Order of St Michael and St George was updated in 2011.'
