Naked Emperor

The crowds, it will be remembered, cheered their heads off as the Emperor in spangled finery, borne aloft by loyal henchmen, glittered by. Only a single non-courtier observed, with some surprise, that the Emperor had no clothes.

At long last some bolder Britons, rubbing stardust from their eyes, are observing that a similar misfortune has overcome their own Caesar. The Empire died but did not die—it rose again as the Commonwealth, that noble league of free, loyal and democratic nations imbued with British principles of justice, order and fair play, which was Britain’s special contribution to the world, and whose 22 other member-states acknowledged, and respected Britain as founder and guide. (All Commonwealth members, it is true, are equal, but Britain is more equal than the rest.) The Empire/Commonwealth had a splendid set of robes.

EH

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Elspeth Huxley

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The crowds, it will be remembered, cheered their heads off as the Emperor in spangled finery, borne aloft by loyal henchmen, glittered by. Only a single non-courtier observed, with some surprise, that the Emperor had no clothes.

At long last some bolder Britons, rubbing stardust from their eyes, are observing that a similar misfortune has overcome their own Caesar. The Empire died but did not die—it rose again as the Commonwealth, that noble league of free, loyal and democratic nations imbued with British principles of justice, order and fair play, which was Britain’s special contribution to the world, and whose 22 other member-states acknowledged, and respected Britain as founder and guide. (All Commonwealth members, it is true, are equal, but Britain is more equal than the rest.) The Empire/Commonwealth had a splendid set of robes.