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Princess Anne, Alan Cumming at the Order of the Knights Ceremony at Buckingham Palace (2009)
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Dominic Lipinski / dpa
He has "concerns about being associated with the poison of the Empire": the actor Alan Cumming distances himself from the British crown and gives back the knightly order.
He received the award 14 years ago for his acting achievements and his commitment to the rights of queer people.
The debate over the role of the monarchy and the way the British Empire had long benefited from the exploitation of indigenous peoples around the world was "eye-opening," Cumming wrote.
Nevertheless, the knightly order meant a lot to him, wrote Cumming, who was seen in the James Bond film »GoldenEye«, among other things.
"I have returned my award, explained my reasons and once again expressed my deep gratitude for receiving it," Cumming said.
Born in Scotland and also a US citizen, he is a supporter of the Scottish independence movement, which wants to separate the part of the country from the United Kingdom.
kha/dpa