[1] In 2009, he garnered attention by featuring on the cover of Soldier Magazine – the official monthly publication of the British Army – as an openly gay trooper in the Blues and Royals.

[3] Wharton left the army in 2013 after ten years' service and in 2014, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London for his work as a prominent LGBT activist.

[1] Following working in public relations and for the LGBT-specialist insurance company Emerald Life, Wharton was the Wellbeing Services Manager at Birmingham LGBT until September 2019.

After his basic training at The Army Foundation College in Harrogate from 2003 to 2004, Wharton signed up as a Trooper in the Blues and Royals division of the Household Cavalry in 2005.

[2] For his first two years, Wharton's duties were largely ceremonial but in 2007 he saw active service in Iraq as a member of an armoured reconnaissance unit.

(According to a Royal Air Force press release, "personnel will be considered to be on-duty for the uniformed element of the event").

A photograph of Wharton in dress uniform and wearing his Iraq Medal decorated the cover alongside the word "pride" in bold.

[1] The following year, Wharton entered a Civil Partnership, which was later that day celebrated at the non-commissioned officers' mess in the Household Cavalry's Hyde Park barracks.

[13] Having returned to ceremonial duties, in 2010, Wharton took part in Trooping of the Colour, which since 1748, has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign.

[1] Wharton returned to public attention in May 2012, when a photograph of him – in uniform and without permission from his commanding officer – alongside his civil partner was published on the cover of Attitude with the heading "Have you heard the one about the Iraq veteran who can fight for his country but can't get married?"

"[20] His views sparked a nationwide controversy and met with strong opposition by notable LGBT activists, including Peter Tatchell, Matthew Hodson, chief executive of the gay men's health charity GMFA, and Jason Warriner, clinical director for The Terrence Higgins Trust, who argued that "(closing saunas) would make it more difficult for organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust to provide safer sex information, supply condoms and deliver HIV testing services among groups at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

"In 2016, Wharton, seeking help with his addiction, turned to the Wandsworth Community Drug and Alcohol Service, and with their support, walked away from the chemsex culture.