Former First Sea Lord Ben Key is stripped of his knighthood and CBE after affair with junior female officer

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

Ben Key, 60, who became the first First Sea Lord in the Royal Navy's 500-year history to be dismissed, has been stripped of both his knighthood and CBE following a misconduct investigation into his affair with a female subordinate. A father of three, Key was sacked after a two-month probe concluded that his conduct had fallen "far short of the values and standards expected." The affair came to light after the junior officer's husband lodged an official complaint with the Ministry of Defence.

Key had previously pledged to eradicate "intolerable behaviour" regardless of rank — then broke the service rule forbidding relationships between commanders and subordinates.

Friends and colleagues were said to be surprised by the severity of the punishment given his "lifetime of exceptional service" after joining the Navy as a cadet in 1984.

Key said in a statement: 'I fully accept the outcome and the need for accountability, especially for those of us who have held leadership positions in the armed services.'