King Charles strips 5 more people of honours in October 2026

His Majesty has now stripped the honours from 48 individuals since coming to the throne.

The figures are based on the Cabinet Office’s published forfeiture register, which lists cases from August 2023 onwards.

This month, October 2026, five more people have had their honours taken away, including the former head of the Royal Navy, who lost his knighthood.

Ben Key was one of five people to lose honours in the latest round of forfeitures.

Key is a highly decorated Royal Navy officer who commanded several ships and served in Kosovo and Iraq, and was appointed Fleet Commander in 2016 and Chief of Joint Operations in 2019.

He was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 2021.

However, both honours were annulled in October 2026, The Gazette says, following an investigation into his conduct.

In May 2026, it was reported that Admiral Key had attempted to resign for personal reasons, but his resignation was rejected pending an investigation into a personal relationship with a subordinate.

He was subsequently dismissed from the Royal Navy in June 2026, with the Ministry of Defence stating that he had fallen “far short of the values and standards expected.”

The BBC reported that Admiral Key had breached the military’s code of conduct by having an affair with a junior female officer.

Ben Key, the former head of the Royal Navy, has been stripped of his knighthood and CBE (Image: PA)

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The Royal Navy 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.

“This includes referral to the Cabinet Office Forfeitures Committee for the withdrawal of state honours.”

In a statement shared with The Sun, Key said: “More than a year after stepping down, I have been informed of the outcome of an honours review relating to my previous conduct.

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

“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.”

In October 2026, four others had their honours removed alongside Admiral Key.

Maqsood Ahmad and Nirpal Riat were stripped of their OBEs for actions deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Ian Hudson and Charles Montegriffo lost their OBE and MBE, respectively, due to criminal convictions.

According to the Cabinet Office, honours can be forfeited for reasons including criminal convictions, professional censure, professional disbarment, breach of a court order, or other conduct that brings the honours system into disrepute.

In total, 48 honours have been forfeited since August 2023, including 27 MBEs, 15 OBEs, three CBEs, two BEMs, and two knighthoods.

Ben Key is the first individual on record to have two honours removed.

Other high-profile names stripped of honours in 2026 include former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who lost his knighthood in July following his conviction for historical child sex abuse offences.

Former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells forfeited her CBE in February 2024.

Julie Meyer, a former Dragons’ Den investor, also lost her MBE after being found to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

The Government’s forfeiture register was first published in August 2023 and most recently updated in October 2026.

Does anyone you know have an honour from the King? Let us know in the comments.

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