Carl Austin-Behan, from Manchester, was one of dozens of former soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who attended the ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, on Monday. King Charles's visit of the sculpture, named An Opened Letter, was the monarch's first official engagement in support of the LGBT community.

King Charles has laid flowers at the UK’s first national memorial commemorating LGBT armed forces, meeting veterans who spoke of the profound trauma inflicted by the military ’s former "gay ban".

King Charles will visit the UK's first memorial to LGBT military personnel who suffered for years under the Armed Forces' homophobic laws. Charles, 76, will lay flowers at the site at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Monday during the unveiling of the Government-funded public tribute.

Soldiers, sailors and airmen and women thrown out of the military because of their sexuality welcomed the King’s endorsement of the new sculpture.