The head of the Royal Navy has been suspended pending an investigation.

Adm Sir Ben Key has been asked to “step back” as first sea lord, sources at the MoD confirmed on Friday.

Key was absent from the lineup of senior military personnel on the Mall on Monday for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and it is understood that second sea lord V Adm Martin Connell has taken full charge until a permanent replacement is announced.

Earlier this week the MoD said Key had departed for “private reasons”.

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a university cadet, and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London. As a junior officer he saw service around the world, after qualifying as helicopter aircrew and a principal warfare officer.

He was made vice admiral in February 2016, before becoming the Royal Navy’s fleet commander and later chief of joint operations until he was appointed first sea lord in 2021.

Over his career, he has commanded four ships: the mine hunter HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster, and the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

An Iraq war veteran, prior to taking over the Navy Key was also awarded a US bronze star and oversaw the retreat from Afghanistan.

In his current role, he is also chief of the naval staff and chair of the navy board, where he is responsible to the secretary of state for the fighting “effectiveness, efficiency and morale” of the service.

Key last year issued an unreserved apology for “intolerable” misogyny in the Submarine Service, after a series of investigations across the navy exposed sexual harassment, bullying and assault of women within its ranks.

The navy chief said he was “truly sorry” to the women who had suffered “misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours” while serving their country. “We must be better than this and do better than we have,” he said.

The MoD said on Friday: “An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”