Stephen Fry honoured by King Charles with knighthood at Windsor Castle
Blackadder star Stephen Fry has been honoured with a knighthood by King Charles for his services to mental health awareness, charity, and the environment
Sir Stephen Fry has been honoured with a knighthood by King Charles at a prestigious ceremony at Windsor Castle today. The 67-year-old comedian and presenter best known for his iconic roles in Blackadder and as the host of QI, is a recognition part of the King’s New Year’s Honours list. Stephen has been honoured for his exceptional contributions to mental health awareness, environmental advocacy, and charitable causes.
Fry, who has been a prominent figure in these fields for over a decade, has long used his platform to raise awareness about mental health, and his dedication to these causes is underscored by his long-standing presidency of the mental health charity Mind.
Additionally, he has worked closely with Fauna and Flora International, a conservation organisation of which Prince Charles serves as patron. Fry, who has been open about his personal battles with bipolar disorder, has become a vocal advocate for de-stigmatising mental illness, using his own experiences to shine a light on these important issues.
As he received the incredible accolade, Stephen’s husband appeared to stand nearby. The much-loved star and his husband, Elliott Spencer, keep themselves out of the spotlight – and they have not been seen in public together in six years. Stephen has been married to 36-year-old Elliott since 2015 with the couple tying-the-knot in Dereham, Norfolk, in January 2015.
Since then, the couple have rarely been seen out and about together and actively keep their romance out of the spotlight. Other than the occasional premiere or award show ceremony, the duo have not been seen on red carpets or attending glitzy parties. And the couple were last spotted out together for a public even six years ago.
Joining Sir Stephen at the investiture ceremony is Dina Asher-Smith, one of the UK’s most celebrated sprinters. At just 29 years old, Asher-Smith is being recognised with an MBE for her outstanding achievements in athletics. Widely regarded as the fastest British woman of all time, Asher-Smith played a pivotal role in the 4×100 metre relay team that claimed a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
This adds to her already impressive medal collection, which includes a bronze medal from both the Rio and Tokyo Games in the same event. Asher-Smith’s remarkable career has seen her shatter national records, and she continues to be a trailblazer in British athletics, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
In addition to Fry and Asher-Smith, several other individuals will receive honours at the ceremony. Sir Alan Hollinghurst, a distinguished author, will be knighted for his literary achievements, particularly his Booker Prize-winning novel The Line of Beauty. This novel, which won the Booker Prize in 2004, was notable not only for its exceptional storytelling but also for being the first work of gay fiction to earn the prestigious award.
Set against the backdrop of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, the book delves into the life of Nick Guest, a young Oxford graduate navigating his identity and relationships during the tumultuous years of the AIDS epidemic.
The ceremony will also celebrate the achievements of Paralympic athletes, including Poppy Maskill, 20, who will be honoured for her exceptional performances in the pool at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Maskill, competing in the S14 swimming class for athletes with intellectual disabilities, became the most decorated Paralympian for Team GB in Paris, bringing home five medals, including three golds in the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, and the 4x100m freestyle relay. Maskill’s success has cemented her place as one of the country’s top Paralympic athletes, and her dedication to her sport has inspired countless others.
Finally, taekwondo champion Amy Truesdale, 36, will be recognised with an MBE for her groundbreaking achievements in Paralympic taekwondo. Truesdale, alongside her teammate Matt Bush, made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics when they secured the first-ever gold medals for Team GB in taekwondo. Truesdale’s success represents not just her personal triumph but also the wider growth and recognition of Paralympic taekwondo as a sport on the world stage.
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