‘Love cheat’ Navy chief who had an affair with a junior female officer has been stripped of his knighthood

DAILYMAIL • 1h ago

By OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA and FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER 01:23 02 Oct 2026, updated 01:25 02 Oct 2026

The former head of the Royal Navy has been stripped of his knighthood and CBE after he was sacked following claims he had an affair with a junior female officer.

Ben Key was suspended as First Sea Lord in May 2025 with an investigation finding the married father-of-three fell ‘far short of expected standards’.

The investigation resulted in the termination of his service and commission, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in July 2025.

Mr Key, who is the first Sea Lord in history to have his service terminated, is no longer an admiral but will continue to receive his pension.

He said in a statement on Thursday: ‘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.’

It is believed the alleged affair came to light after the female officer’s non-serving husband lodged a complaint with the MoD.

Mr Key was accused of breaking the service test, which strictly forbids sexual relationships between commanders and their subordinates.

It is understood the junior officer’s husband believed Mr Key should be held accountable to the same standards as those beneath him.

Mr Key was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2016 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 2021.

He was also in the running to become the next Chief of Defence Staff.

Now, he has been stripped of his honours, marking the first time in the 500-year history of the Royal Navy that its First Sea Lord has come under such scrutiny.

Those close to him previously said they were ‘shocked’ by the affair allegations, with many female officers feeling let down by his conduct.

Insiders understand that Mr Key had attempted to retire ‘quietly’ once the alleged affair was exposed, but General Dame Sharon Nesmith, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, and John Healey, the Defence Secretary, insisted on an investigation.

In March 2025, Mr Key appeared in Parliament to provide evidence on the treatment of women in the armed forces and commented on ‘unwelcome sexual behaviours’.

He told the defence select committee: ‘We are absolutely determined to create a Royal Navy in which people are judged for their professional conduct, welcomed for the contribution that they make, and accepted for who they are.

‘Behaviours that run counter to that will not be accepted, and particularly those around unwelcome sexual behaviours.

‘We have removed people from the service, including those who have commanded, where we have discovered that their behaviours were not appropriate, or we have removed people from positions of responsibility before situations have got out of hand.’

Mr Key was First Sea Lord from 2021 until May 2025, when he was succeeded by General Sir Gwyn Jenkins of the Royal Marines.

Educated at Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire, he joined the Navy in 1984 as a university cadet.

He qualified as both a helicopter aircrew and principal warfare officer, and as a junior officer saw service around the world in a variety of frigates and destroyers.

His wife Elly previously told of the ‘burden’ being in the Navy can place on families.

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.’

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