Former First Sea Lord Ben Key Stripped of Knighthood After Honours Review

Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, in Royal Navy uniform

Admiral Sir Ben Key in his official portrait as First Sea Lord, August 2022. His knighthood and CBE have now been annulled. Photo: POPhot Will Haigh, Royal Navy / MOD. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The former head of the Royal Navy has been stripped of his knighthood and his CBE after a formal honours review concluded his conduct fell far short of the standards expected of service personnel, more than a year after an alleged affair with a subordinate brought his career to a sudden end.

Key facts

Ben Key's appointments as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) were annulled on 1 October 2026.
He can no longer use the title Sir or the rank of Admiral, and must drop the letters KCB and CBE from his name.
The decision followed a formal honours review of his conduct. The Royal Navy confirmed cases of this kind are referred to the Cabinet Office Forfeitures Committee.
Key said he "fully accepted" the outcome and expressed his "deep regret" for what happened.
He was First Sea Lord from November 2021 to May 2025. The Ministry of Defence terminated his service and commission in July 2025.
He remains the only First Sea Lord in history to have his service terminated, and will keep his pension.

What has happened

On 1 October, Ben Key was informed that his state honours had been cancelled. His knighthood, awarded in the 2021 New Year Honours, and his CBE, awarded in 2016, were both rescinded after the honours review looked back at the circumstances of his dismissal from the Royal Navy.

From today he is no longer Admiral Sir Ben Key. He is Mr Ben Key.

A Royal Navy spokesperson said the service holds its personnel to the highest standards of conduct. "Any allegations of unacceptable behaviour are thoroughly investigated, and those found guilty will face serious consequences," the spokesperson said. "This includes referral to the Cabinet Office Forfeitures Committee for the withdrawal of state honours."

The Forfeitures Committee is the body that advises the King on stripping honours from people whose conduct brings the honours system into disrepute. It acts rarely, and almost never against someone who once held one of the top jobs in the armed forces. The Sun, which broke the news of the forfeiture, described Key as the most senior officer in the Navy's 500-year history to suffer such a dishonour.

What Ben Key says

In his first public comments since he was sacked as First Sea Lord, Key said he accepted the decision without complaint.

"More than a year after stepping down, I have been informed of the outcome of an honours review relating to my previous conduct," he said in a statement on Thursday.

"I fully accept the outcome and the need for accountability, especially for those of us who have held leadership positions in the armed services."

He added: "It was a great privilege to serve my career in the Royal Navy. I deeply regret what happened and the impact my actions have had on others. I remain very grateful for the support of my family and friends throughout this past year."

Why this happened

The chain of events began in May 2025, when Key was suspended as First Sea Lord amid claims he had been conducting an affair with a junior female officer. He attempted to resign, citing personal reasons, but his resignation was rejected while an investigation into his conduct ran its course.

The investigation found that his behaviour had fallen "far short of the values and standards" expected of service personnel. In July 2025 the MoD announced that his Royal Navy service and commission had been terminated, a punishment no previous First Sea Lord has faced.

At the heart of the case was the service test, the military rule that strictly forbids sexual relationships between commanders and their subordinates. The relationship was reported to have come to light after the junior officer's non-serving husband complained to the MoD, arguing that Key should be held to the same standards as those beneath him.

Key is a married father of three. He had at one point been considered a serious contender to become the next Chief of the Defence Staff.

A naval career cut short

For four decades Key's career had been one of steady, unremarkable ascent. He joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a university cadet, qualified as both helicopter aircrew and as a principal warfare officer, and served around the world in frigates and destroyers as a junior officer.

Senior appointments followed: commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 2009, Flag Officer Sea Training in 2013, Fleet Commander and promotion to vice admiral in 2016, and Chief of Joint Operations in 2019.

In August 2021 he led Operation Pitting, the evacuation of British nationals and eligible Afghans from Kabul as the Taliban seized power, an operation that demanded exactly the kind of calm leadership he was known for. Two months later it was announced he would become First Sea Lord, and he took up the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.

He held the job for three and a half years before the suspension. He was succeeded by General Sir Gwyn Jenkins of the Royal Marines.

Reaction

The response from former colleagues has been sympathetic but unsparing. General Sir Patrick Sanders, who led the Army while Key led the Navy, said the former admiral remained one of the most "popular and respected" officers of his generation.

"He may have lost his medals, but I'll always admire and respect him," Sir Patrick said.

A senior female navy officer told The Times the decision was "hugely disappointing" given a lifetime of service. "Although I understand the process, it's hugely disappointing that a lifetime of exceptional service has been disregarded because of one mistake and to many of us he remains someone we hold in high regard," she said.

What is known and what is not

What is known: the honours are gone, the decision is final, and Key has accepted it. His pension, which the MoD confirmed he would continue to receive, is unaffected by the forfeiture.

What is not yet known: whether the formal cancellation will be published in the London Gazette, as is customary with honours forfeitures, and whether Key will make any further public statement or seek to rebuild a public role in defence circles.

One thing is certain. The case will be studied for years as the definitive example of what happens when the most senior officer in the service fails the standards he is supposed to enforce.

Sources

The Sun, "Ex-Royal Navy boss is stripped of knighthood and CBE", 1 Oct 2026 (first reported the forfeiture)
The Times, "Ex-Royal Navy chief stripped of knighthood over 'affair with junior'", 1 Oct 2026 (corroboration; statement; reaction quotes)
Daily Mail, "'Love cheat' Navy chief stripped of his knighthood", 2 Oct 2026 (corroboration; background on complaint and service test)
Wikipedia, "Ben Key" and "List of revocations of appointments to orders and awarded decorations and medals of the United Kingdom" (career chronology; revocation date 1 Oct 2026; cross-checked against press reporting)

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