Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 27, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleKing Charles unveiled the UK's first LGBT armed forces memorial, honoring those affected by the military's past ban on LGBT personnel.
By Sam Tabahriti
LONDON (Reuters) -King Charles unveiled a memorial dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender military personnel on Monday, marking his first official engagement in support of the LGBT community.
The government-funded "Open Letter" memorial is designed to honour those currently serving and commemorate veterans affected by the British military's ban on LGBT officers, which was lifted in 2000, 33 years after male homosexuality was partially decriminalised in England and Wales.
A bronze sculpture, it resembles a crumpled free-standing letter containing words from personal messages that were used as evidence to incriminate individuals.
Wearing a dark suit adorned with military medals and a ceremonial pendant, Charles, the commander-in-chief of the British armed forces, laid flowers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Claire Phillips, a lesbian brigadier who joined the army in 1995 when being openly gay was still banned, said the memorial's design resonated deeply with her and is "such an amazing way of representing people who are so incredibly damaged by the ban."
"This design uses the words of our veterans and service personnel to describe how it felt to be subject to the ban... to begin that process of reconciliation," she told Sky News. "I'm just deeply, deeply honoured to be here today."
Alastair Smith, a gay sergeant who joined the army in 1998, told Sky News that while it took time for attitudes to change in the army he had not faced any prejudice there, but had done in civilian life.
"There are people from the LGBT community who have that gusto, that determination and that drive to perform for their country despite whatever insurmountable odds they may face elsewhere," he said.
The unveiling of the memorial follows recommendations from an independent investigation commissioned by the British government, which reported systemic abuse, including sexual assault and dismissal of LGBT service members.
The government has offered financial redress of up to 70,000 pounds ($93,947) to those impacted.
($1 = 0.7451 pounds)
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Conor Humphries)
A memorial is a structure or monument established to honor and remember individuals or groups who have made significant contributions or sacrifices, often in the context of military service.
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, representing a diverse community of individuals with different sexual orientations and gender identities.
Financial redress refers to compensation or reimbursement provided to individuals or groups who have suffered losses or damages, often as a result of discriminatory practices or policies.
A bronze sculpture is a three-dimensional artwork created by casting molten bronze into a mold, resulting in a durable and often detailed representation of a figure or object.
Reconciliation in a military context refers to the process of restoring relationships and addressing past injustices or grievances, often involving acknowledgment and healing for affected individuals.
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