EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

My story today is The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. I’ve
adapted the story and this morning, I’m going to tell you my version. This is
how it goes.

Once upon a time there lived a vain Emperor whose only worry in life was to
dress up with elegant clothes. He used to change his clothes each hour every
day. He loved to show them off to his people.

His people loved to boast about him. “Oh we have a vain Emperor who loves
to dress up with elegant clothes”. The news about the vain and elegant
Emperor reached the whole land.

One day two scoundrels decided to take advantage of the Emperor’s vanity.
So they went to visit the Emperor and told the Emperor, “Your majesty, we
are very good tailors. After years and years of researching, we have found a
cloth so manly and elegant that we would like to make an outfit especially for
you.”

The Emperor said, “You sure look ugly and you sure look horrible. The two
scoundrels were so honoured that they said, “Oh your Highness, you know
our names. I am Ugly and he is Horrible. The Emperor thought to himself,
“Should I hire these people? Mmmm…”. Eventually he made his decision and
hired them.

The two scoundrels asked the Emperor for a bag of gold coins, a loom and
silk. The Emperor thought he had spent his money wisely in getting himself an
extraordinary suit. The scoundrels promised him that they will make the suit
within one week.

After a few days, the Emperor called upon his old and wise Prime Minister,
Ridiculous, to go and observe how the job was proceeding. “Mr. Prime

1
EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

Minister, Ridiculous, please go and see Ugly and Horrible working on my

magnificent suit. Please report to me their progress.”

The Prime Minister entered the room where the two scoundrels were
working. He was really shocked and surprised at what he saw. So, the Prime
Minister told the Emperor what he saw. The Emperor too was shocked at
what Ridiculous said. After hearing the update on his suit, the Emperor
decided to have a parade to show off his manly, elegant, magnificent suit to
his people and not forgetting his vanity, of course.

One week was over. It was time for the parade. They announced the arrival of
the Emperor. “Announcing the arrival of our most manly and vain Emperor in
his new suit.” (A song) All the people in the parade were cheering and
clapping for their Emperor. As soon as they saw the Emperor, everyone went
quiet. They looked shocked. Suddenly in the silence, a young girl shouted out,
“Look mummy! Look daddy! Our Emperor sure is vain. He is wearing a girl’s
dress!” The other people started shouting out as well.

The Emperor’s face turned red and he was full of embarrassment but he did
not let that get in his way. He continued the parade in his elegant and vain
style, just like an Emperor.

Don’t worry my friends. The story ends on a happy note. After the parade, the
Emperor sacked the two scoundrels. The little girl’s mother got the Emperor’s
new suit which was an elegant dress. The Emperor made sure that from then
on, he hired only well known tailors to make him look elegant and vain.

What have we learnt from this vain Emperor my friends? I’m thinking, I’m
thinking, I’m thinking….Oh yes! We should always be truthful and not just
follow what everybody else says. And most importantly to the boys, never
wear girls’ dresses.

2
EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES

With that I thank you.