The head of the Royal Navy resigned after the examination to subordinates

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The head of the Royal Navy resigned from his role, after the Department of Defense initiated an investigation into his relationship with a subordinate woman, the person familiar with the matter.

The Financial Times revealed this week that the first Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key Had resigned From the leadership of the naval service, with the Vice Admiral of Second Sea Lord, Martin Connell, takes over the full fee until a permanent replacement is announced.

On Friday, Connell wrote to Senior Navy colleagues about the departure of keys to confirm that “a mod examination lasts”, but according to a person familiar with the matter, it would be inappropriate to continue commenting.

Two people familiar with the situation said the investigation in connection with a relationship between key and a female employee.

At the beginning of this week, the mod said that the key had left for “private reasons”.

Others who were aware of the situation said that the Key first informed the head of the defense member Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Defense Minister John Healey in his intention to step down this summer. However, he resigned early in the course of the probe.

Key was missing on Monday in the list of the high -ranking military staff in the shopping center to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

He also did not take the annual rugby match between the British army and part Royal Navy Last weekend in Tickenham, one of the highlights of the British military social calendar.

The Royal Navy this week postponed the Sea Lord’s annual Sea Power Conference, which was to start on Monday in the Lancaster House, citing the most important steps.

The service said it also makes sense to take the government in view of the upcoming strategic defense check and the “formal announcement of the new First Sea Lord” in the coming weeks.

The mod has already asked candidates to replace the key and a successor is expected to be announced directly.

The mod said on Friday: “An investigation continues and it would be inappropriate to make a comment at this time.”

Key did not immediately answer a request for comments.