A 24-year-old transgender soldier has become the first woman to serve on the front line with the British Army.
Chloe Allen, from Cumbria, joined the Scots Guards as a man in 2012 but began hormone therapy in the last month, and has officially changed her name.
The Army said it was delighted to have its first woman in a close-combat role.
Then Prime Minister David Cameron followed a recommendation in July from the head of the Army that women should be able to serve.
The application process for female recruits was due to open later this year.
But Guardsman Allen, who had official documents changed by deed poll from her birth name of Ben to reflect her new name and status, has now been informed she will be able to stay in the infantry, as a woman.
She told the Sun newspaper it was a relief to talk openly about her feelings.
Guardsman Allen had initially thought she would have to leave her post in the First Battalion Scots Guards.
But she decided to talk to a careers officer and was informed she could continue in her role as a rifleman and driver of a Mastiff armoured truck.