Chief minister statement as King Charles removes 5 honours

King Charles III <i>(Image: Aaron Chown/Press Association)</i>
King Charles III (Image: Aaron Chown/Press Association)
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A chief minister has released a statement after King Charles removed five honours last month.

Shortly after it was announced that the monarch had stripped a number of people of honours, the leader of Gibraltar - a UK territory that is near to Spain - praised the decision.

Five more people had their honours removed last month (October 2026) including the former First Sea Lord in the Royal Navy Ben Key.

He had his knighthood and CBE taken away for professional censure, reportedly following an internal investigation for engaging in a personal relationship with a female subordinate.

He was dismissed from the Royal Navy last summer with a Ministry of Defence statement saying that he had fallen "far short of the values and standards expected".

Three had their OBEs removed in the latest announcement: Maqsood Ahmad and Nirpal Riat for bringing the honours system into disrepute and Ian Hudson for a criminal conviction.

In addition, King Charles III, who has a house locally in the Cotswolds, stripped Charles Montegriffo of his MBE for a criminal conviction.

Fabian Picardo, chief minister of Gibraltar (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

It is this decision that prompted the praise from the chief minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo in which he referenced the convictions against Mr Montegriffo.

According to the Gibraltar Chronicle, the former bank manager was appointed an MBE in 2007 for his service as Honorary Treasurer of the Gibraltar Red Cross.

However, earlier this year, the 90-year-old pleaded guilty to seven counts of child sex offences and was jailed for 14 years.

Mr Picardo said: “This decision reflects the seriousness with which we regard offences against children and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the honours system.

Jeffrey DonaldsonJeffrey Donaldson (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

"Our thoughts remain with the victims.”

Hi statement was echoed by the Gibraltar minister for justice, Nigel Feetham, who said: “The protection of victims and the public must remain our absolute priority.

"An honour carries with it a responsibility to uphold the standards expected of those who receive it.”

Others have also had honours removed for criminal convictions.

This includes Dr Ian Hudson, who lost his honour at the same time, after it was discovered he had previous convictions for child sexual communication offences.

Before then, during the summer, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had his knighthood stripped for historical sex offences.

It was reported that he is planning to appeal the decision.

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