'We salute you!' Royal Family doubles down on LGBT military support following King Charles tribute

The post declared: "We see all the LGBT+ serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces, and we salute you."

The message continued: "This afternoon at the National Memorial Arboretum, The King attended the Dedication Ceremony of a new memorial in recognition of all LGBT+ people who have served and continue to serve in the military.

"Throughout the 20th century, gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people were banned from serving in the UK Armed Forces.

"The newly unveiled memorial features a free-standing opened letter, incorporating words drawn from the testimonies of former service personnel affected by the ban, alongside contributions from current serving members and veterans."

The Prime Minister responded directly to the royal post. Keir Starmer emphasised that the contributions and sacrifices made by LGBT+ military personnel, particularly those who served whilst the prohibition was enforced, warranted recognition.

He said: "The service and sacrifice of LGBT+ members of the Armed Forces, especially those who served during the ban, deserves to be honoured.

"This new memorial, dedicated to LGBT+ personnel past and present, will stand as a lasting tribute to their bravery and service."

The monarch travelled to Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum on Monday for the groundbreaking ceremony.

During the event, he placed a floral tribute at the memorial's base and engaged with military veterans.

Brigadier Clare Phillips delivered a dedication address to the assembled crowd. She stated: "For hundreds of LGBT veterans, their experiences have been catastrophic — their lives and careers shattered."

Ms Phillips continued by describing the memorial's unveiling as a tribute to those who confronted prejudice and harassment, enabling current personnel to serve without concealment.

Following the formal proceedings, the 76-year-old sovereign met with two separate gatherings of LGBT+ veterans and currently serving military personnel. The dedication service drew approximately 300 attendees, including senior officials, former servicemembers and representatives from the LGBT+ community.

The memorial bears the title "An Opened Letter" and was created by designers from King's Lynn's Abraxas Academy. Its bronze construction mimics a piece of crumpled correspondence, with the surface featuring text extracted from historical documents that were employed to identify and shame military personnel who concealed their sexuality before the prohibition ended in 2000.

Artist Nina Bilbey, who contributed to the sculpture's creation, shared an image of the monarch beside the artwork on social media, describing the occasion as unforgettable.

The academy's statement expressed aspirations that the monument would alleviate the suffering and mistrust experienced by LGBT+ veterans whilst serving as an inspirational symbol for coming generations, highlighting the restorative nature of acknowledgement and reconciliation.

The ceremony marked Britain's inaugural monument honouring LGBT+ military personnel, commemorating individuals impacted by the prohibition that remained in force until 2000. The memorial stands at the National Memorial Arboretum, where roughly 300 participants gathered for Monday's dedication service, including high-ranking officials, former servicemembers and representatives from the LGBT+ community.

The unveiling precedes Remembrance Day on November 11, when Britain honours military personnel who perished whilst serving. The Royal Family's social media statement highlighted how the monument incorporates testimonies from former personnel affected by the prohibition, combined with contributions from those currently serving and veterans.

The memorial represents a significant acknowledgement of the discrimination faced by LGBT+ servicemembers who were prohibited from serving openly throughout the previous century.