Sir Stephen Fry: A Year of Honours, Entertainment, and Advocacy
A Knighthood for Service and Advocacy
In the 2025 New Year Honours, Fry was knighted by King Charles III for services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity. Actor, author and screenwriter Stephen Fry received a knighthood from King Charles III at Windsor Castle in his own inimitable style, as he paired comfy trainers with his morning suit. Fry was accompanied at the Royal residence by his husband Elliot Spencer, 30 years his junior, whom he married in 2015.
The knighthood recognises Fry’s extensive charity work, including his involvement with the Terrence Higgins Trust for raising awareness and funds for people living with HIV and AIDS and his presidency of the mental health charity Mind.
Reality Television and Royal Viewers
In May 2025, Fry was announced as a contestant on the first series of The Celebrity Traitors, joining the game as a ‘Faithful’ and was banished in Episode 6. The celebrity series became a ratings winner for the BBC with comedian Alan Carr snatching the victory from faithfuls, historian David Olusoga and actor Nick Mohammed in the nailbiting finale.
The show’s impact reached unexpected heights. The Prince of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance said to him, we were locked into it, revealing that even the royal family had become captivated by the programme.
Academic Appointment and West End Success
Fry has been appointed Visiting Professor of Creative Media at the Faculty of English of the University of Oxford for the 2024–2025 academic year. Stephen Fry is set to appear as Lady Bracknell at this year’s Royal Variety Performance 2025 at the Royal Albert Hall, with his appearance coming direct from his acclaimed turn as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.
Speaking Out on Social Issues
In June 2025, Fry spoke out against Harry Potter series author JK Rowling for her views on transgender people, calling her a ‘lost cause’ and ‘radicalized’. This drew significant attention, as Fry had previously narrated all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, making his public criticism particularly notable.
Why Stephen Fry Matters
Stephen Fry’s 2025 demonstrates why he remains one of Britain’s most highly regarded public figures. From his knighthood recognising decades of advocacy work to his willingness to engage with contemporary entertainment formats and speak out on contentious social issues, Fry continues to evolve as both entertainer and public intellectual. His ability to bridge high culture—through West End theatre and academic appointments—with popular entertainment reflects a unique position in British cultural life.