King Charles Strips Ben Key of Two Military Honours
King Charles III stripped five people of their honours in October 2026, including former Royal Navy head Ben Key, who lost two awards following a conduct investigation.
King Charles III stripped five individuals of their honours in October 2026, bringing the total number of forfeitures since his accession to 48. The actions were detailed in the Cabinet Office's updated forfeiture register.
Among those affected was Ben Key, the former head of the Royal Navy, who became the first person on record to have two honours removed: a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. These forfeitures followed an investigation into a personal relationship with a subordinate, which led to Key's dismissal from the Royal Navy in June 2026 for breaching the military's code of conduct and falling far short of expected values and standards.
Other individuals stripped of honours this month include Maqsood Ahmad and Nirpal Riat, who both lost OBEs for bringing the system into disrepute. Additionally, Ian Hudson and Charles Montegriffo lost an OBE and MBE, respectively, due to criminal convictions.
