SERVING WITH PRIDE

In a moving ceremony, the King unveils the UK's first national memorial to LGBT members of the armed forces

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

With his head bowed, the King paid tribute to LGBT members of the armed forces as he unveiled the UK’s first national memorial to them.

His Majesty, who laid flowers at the foot of the bronze sculpture at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, was visibly moved as he met veterans whose careers were cut short by a ban on gay people serving in the military.

Titled An Opened Letter, the sculpture takes the form of a crumpled epistle featuring the words of some of those affected by the ban, which was in place until January 2000.

Thousands of people were investigated and discharged from the forces, lost their rank and military pensions and were shunned by family and friends.