King Charles Honors LGBT Military Personnel with Memorial Unveiling

King Charles unveiled a memorial dedicated to LGBT military personnel, marking his first official support for the community. The 'Open Letter' memorial honors those affected by the ban on LGBT officers, lifted in 2000. It features messages depicting the struggles faced under the past restrictions.

In a significant nod to the LGBT community, King Charles unveiled a new memorial dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel. This marks his first official engagement supporting the community, highlighting the enduring impact of the British military's ban on LGBT service members, which was repealed in 2000.

Commissioned by the government, the 'Open Letter' memorial features a bronze sculpture resembling a crumpled letter, symbolizing the incriminating evidence once used against LGBT individuals. King Charles, adorned in military attire, laid a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum in a solemn tribute.

Both LGBT veterans and current service members, like Brigadier Claire Phillips and Sergeant Alastair Smith, expressed deep appreciation for the memorial's representation of their struggles and hopes for reconciliation. The memorial's unveiling follows a government investigation that acknowledged systemic abuse and led to compensation for affected individuals.

(With inputs from agencies.)