First Distinguished Service Order bearing King's cypher awarded to Veterans Minister Al Carns
Al Carns has become the first person to be awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) featuring King Charles's cypher.
The honour was announced in the 2025 New Year Honours list, recognising the former Royal Marines officer's leadership during operational deployments between October 2023 and March 2024.
Writing on LinkedIn, Colonel Carns said: "This award recognises one of the most outstanding teams I have had the privilege to lead and work with. Whilst I had the pleasure of receiving the medal from the King, the award is for them."
The King's cypher marks a new chapter in military honours
A royal cypher is the personal monogram of the reigning monarch, used on state documents, military insignia, medals and official buildings.
The cypher for King Charles III - CIIIR, standing for Charles III Rex - began appearing on honours and decorations after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Rex is Latin for King.
The Distinguished Service Order awarded to Col Carns is the first known example of the decoration featuring the new King's cypher.
While most military decorations are not reissued en masse, the production of new awards now carries the updated cypher, replacing EIIR (Elizabeth II Regina), which adorned British medals for 70 years.
What is the Distinguished Service Order?
The DSO is a prestigious military decoration awarded to members of the Armed Forces, typically officers, for distinguished service during active operations .
First established by Queen Victoria in 1886, it is traditionally presented by the Sovereign.
While it ranks below the Victoria Cross and George Cross in the official order of wear, the DSO is regarded as one of the highest honours for operational leadership in the Armed Forces.
A frontline leader with honours to match
Col Carns has a distinguished record spanning over two decades of service in the Royal Marines and now serves as the Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State for Veterans and People at the Ministry of Defence.
Born on 27 March 1980 in Aberdeen, he attended a state school before joining the Royal Marines at the age of 19.
Over a 24-year regular career, he rose steadily through the ranks - from trained strength to Captain in 2003, Major in 2010, Lieutenant Colonel in 2016, and finally Colonel in 2021
He completed four tours in Afghanistan, earning a Mention in Dispatches in 2007 and the Military Cross in 2011, awarded for "gallant and distinguished services" during operations between October 2010 and March 2011.
In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for exceptional operational service.
Col Carns also served in senior staff roles, including as an adviser to three successive Defence Secretaries and as Chief of Staff to the Commander UK Strike Force, coordinating aircraft carriers and Commando forces.
In June 2024, Col Carns had been due to be promoted to brigadier, but resigned so he could stand as the Labour candidate for Birmingham Selly Oak.
He was elected as MP on 4 July 2024, and appointed Veterans Minister at the MOD on 9 July that year.
Col Carns re‑enlisted as a Royal Marines reservist in November 2024.
He is also a devoted family man, living with his partner, their three children and a red fox Labrador.
In May 2025, he joined a team that summited Mount Everest while trialling experimental acclimatisation techniques using xenon gas.
What leadership means to Col Carns
In the LinkedIn post announcing that he received his DSO, Col Carns shared a set of leadership principles he said he often wrote out for the teams he commanded.
The post offers rare insight into the mindset behind his operational leadership.
"Leadership is a team sport," he wrote. "You are only ever as good as your team — irrelevant of age, creed, background, sex or cap badge. Surround yourself with the best people, delegate and empower, and watch the magic happen."
Delegation, he said, was central to his approach: "Delegate. Delegate. Delegate. Then delegate some more. Set clear priorities, provide boundaries and empower your people to deliver."
He stressed that treating others with basic respect was non-negotiable: "Manners cost nothing. Treat people as you would wish to be treated yourself.”
On adaptability, he wrote: "The only thing consistent about change is that change is consistent. Own it. Be part of the programme and shape it to deliver for the team."
Col Carns also encouraged honesty in the chain of command, urging colleagues to "speak smart truth to power" - bringing well-researched, balanced views to the table, especially when proposing solutions.
He warned against chasing perfection at the cost of progress: "Chase the unrelenting pursuit of excellence. But do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good… the latter can reduce your ability to generate tempo."
Finally, he emphasised diversity as an operational asset: "Variety of experiences produce a balance of perspectives. Embrace that, use it to make the team stronger and go faster."
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