As the 'hot equerry' steps away, meet the dashing military hunks the royals can't live without – from 'Major Eye Candy' to the bomb-defusing hero who will be helping Kate back to work after her surgery

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With his brooding good looks, dashing demeanour and penchant for wearing a kilt, it’s no wonder Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson, royal equerry to King Charles, attracted legions of adoring fans as His Majesty’s right-hand man.

The handsome public servant, 40, was previously one of the Queen’s most senior bodyguards and rose to prominence during the Coronation last May. He has since been a constant at the King’s side, with swooning admirers dubbing him ‘the hot equerry’ and ‘Major Eye Candy’.

Indeed, on recent royal walkabouts, the Lieutenant Colonel has been getting more cheers than Charles himself; on the state visit to France last autumn, local newspapers said he had caused an unwitting ‘coup d’etat’, setting French hearts aflutter in his trademark green-and-black kilt and traditional fur sporran.

Now, however, his time in the spotlight has come to an end, with news that the Army officer has moved to a ‘less public-facing role’ in the royal household – reportedly because he didn’t like the attention.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson was dubbed 'the hot equerry' and 'Major Arm Candy' by swooning admirers

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson was dubbed ‘the hot equerry’ and ‘Major Arm Candy’ by swooning admirers

Dealing with devoted fans is not in the job description, after all: an equerry is an officer of the royal household, who acts as a loyal aide to one of The Firm. They are, explains a royal insider, ‘hugely important positions, not only because they provide a link between monarchy and the military, but also because they do a huge amount of work in planning royal diaries, organising engagements and logistics.’

Appointed by working members of the royal family, equerries – who spend three years in the job – are drawn from junior officers of the British Armed Forces. This means most equerries are young, able (the creme de la creme of the military), and spend their years in service actively attending their royal master or mistress, whether at home or out on public engagements.

Not all are male, of course: indeed, Charles – who has two equerries – recently broke with tradition by appointing the first female equerry to a sovereign: 33-year-old Captain Kat Anderson, an officer with the Royal Artillery and former aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Most spend their careers toiling behind the scenes. Others, like Johnny, find themselves thrust into the public eye – some for more frivolous reasons than others.

Princess Margaret famously fell in love with her father’s equerry, Captain Peter Townsend, in a controversial and tumultuous royal romance, while Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, started his career as equerry to her mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Though many may be mourning Johnny’s departure, royal watchers need not stop swooning just yet. There are plenty more equerries who are just as easy on the eye – though none, admittedly, who are quite as likely to get their legs out in the line of duty.

 

Major Oliver ‘Ollie’ Plunket

Equerry to: Queen Camilla

Regiment: The Rifles

Major Oliver ‘Ollie’ Plunket, from The Rifles, did a solo bike ride from Argentina to Alaska in his teens that raised £100,000 for wounded servicemen

Major Oliver ‘Ollie’ Plunket, from The Rifles, did a solo bike ride from Argentina to Alaska in his teens that raised £100,000 for wounded servicemen

At 29, Major Ollie Plunket, equerry to Queen Camilla, has youth on his side – and, unlike many of his colleagues, he’s reportedly single.

A kinsman of the 9th Lord Plunket, he serves in The Rifles, the regiment of which Camilla has been colonel-in-chief since 2020, after succeeding Prince Philip, and was appointed as her equerry in November 2022.

With his striking blonde hair and blue eyes, the athletic aide first came to public attention during the Coronation, when fans spotted him processing in full military regalia alongside the King and dubbed him ‘the hot guy’ at the Abbey.

He was later seen grinning alongside Kate, Princess of Wales, at the royal carol concert at Kensington Palace in 2022.

He had quite the career before joining The Firm. While still in his teens, Major Plunket undertook a solo motorbike ride – covering a distance of 24,500 miles – which began in Argentina and ended in Alaska, during which he raised £100,000 for wounded servicemen. During his overseas adventure, the brave officer even survived a treacherous rock fall.

Camilla is said to ‘adore’ him, having handpicked him to work at her side – and earlier this month was delighted to meet his mother, an artist who creates taxidermy pieces, at a tour of an art studio in west London.

 

Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon

Equerry to: Prince William

Regiment: Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon, William's equerry, with Kate at the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey

Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon, William’s equerry, with Kate at the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey

A military man who’s spent more than two decades working in the Navy, Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon has been a trusted right-hand man to Prince William since September 2020.

He caught the attention of royal fans in April 2021, when he was spotted alongside the Princess of Wales during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle. Since then Lieutenant Commander Dixon – or Rob to his friends – has been seen at a variety of royal events, including the vigil at Westminster Abbey in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

Sports fan Rob has also made several appearances at the polo, and turned out in a top hat and tails at Royal Ascot, where – in scenes that set pulses racing – he was spotted deep in conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson.

Immaculately presented, he boasts a bouffant hairstyle, designer stubble and a winning smile. To his fanbase’s frustration, however, he’s very private: his age is unknown, and he keeps his home life closely under wraps.

Rob’s CV is impressive: he has worked as a helicopter instructor and piloted a Wildcat, one of the Navy’s most powerful helicopters.

He attended Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, followed by the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. On his LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as ‘a leader’, noting that he also ‘operates well as part of the team’.

He’s got a military medal to his name, too: in 2015, he was awarded a prestigious Green Endorsement, reserved for extraordinary actions, for his ‘speed of thought, judgment and total professionalism’ while on duty.

A source says he’s a ‘confident’ member of the royal household, adding: ‘He and William work really well together, not least because they are both helicopter nuts.’

 

Captain George Hopkins

Equerry to: The Duke of Kent

Regiment: Scots Guards

Captain George Hopkins serves in the Scots Guards whose soldiers are renowned for their discipline and courage

Captain George Hopkins serves in the Scots Guards whose soldiers are renowned for their discipline and courage

One of the newer equerries on the royal staff list, Captain George Hopkins works for Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, cousin to the late Queen.

He rose to prominence last November when the duke, 88, missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph for health reasons and the young officer, whose age is unknown, laid a wreath on his behalf.

Hailing from East Sussex, he serves in the Scots Guards, one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Army, whose soldiers are renowned for their discipline and courage – and wear distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats.

Though little is known about his background, George is believed to be firmly off the market, having married his wife, Olivia, who works in finance, last year.

 

Captain Stuart Kaye

Equerry to: Princess Anne

Regiment: The Household Cavalry

Captain Stuart Kaye was hand-picked by Princess Anne for his professionalism and aptitude in public duties

Captain Stuart Kaye was hand-picked by Princess Anne for his professionalism and aptitude in public duties

Sandhurst-trained Captain Stuart Kaye, equerry to Princess Anne, has drawn more than a few admiring glances over the years – and recently accompanied his royal mistress to Namibia, where she was attending the funeral of the late president.

Now in his early thirties, Captain Kaye attended King’s School Bruton in Somerset before studying politics and modern history at Cardiff University. He went on to do a Master’s degree at University College London, starting his career as an intern at the Association of British Insurers, before joining the military in 2018.

The dashing officer has served as Squadron Second-in-Command at Bulford Barracks and Mounted Troop Leader for The Household Cavalry, before being appointed to his equerry role in September 2022.

Princess Anne hand-picked him for his professionalism and aptitude in public duties – though royal watchers have pointed out that he doesn’t look half-bad in his ceremonial uniform, complete with silver-plumed helmet, gold tassels and sword, either.

Lieutenant Colonel Tom White

Equerry to: formerly Queen Elizabeth II, now private secretary to Kate, Princess of Wales

Regiment: Royal Marines

Lieutenant Colonel Tom White was personally selected by the late Queen to act as her eyes and ears

Lieutenant Colonel Tom White was personally selected by the late Queen to act as her eyes and ears

An ex-Royal Marines officer who served in Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Tom White has got gallantry in spades – and bears an uncanny resemblance to Roger Federer, the tennis ace who just so happens to be a friend of Kate.

In what many dubbed an unconventional move, she appointed the former royal equerry – who served Queen Elizabeth II from 2020 until her death – as her private secretary just last month, having been without one since October 2022.

The Lieutenant Colonel was invited to ‘test the waters’ by accompanying Kate at a public event last year – and he becomes the first male to ever hold the position.

He’s used to firsts: when he took up the position of ‘Queen’s Squire’ in 2020, he was the first Royal Marines commando to do so. A royal source says he’s returned to the fold, albeit in a different role, as he’s ‘so well-liked’ by every member of the household.

A war hero, he helped avert tragedy in Afghanistan in 2009 when, as a member of 42 Commando, he was part of a team which defused a booby trap bomb in a school in Helmand, after wires were spotted under the door before it detonated.

Tom, 22 at the time, was reported as saying: ‘It turns your stomach to think what could have happened if we hadn’t found the bombs. These people knew they could have blown a lot of kids sky high – and they didn’t care.’

Now 36 and a father himself, the former Marine has been described as a ‘superstar’ by his superiors and was personally selected by the late Monarch to act as her eyes and ears.

He has intimate experience of royal operations, as well as a keen eye for security, making him an ideal candidate to work for the Princess of Wales.

Kate, who was in hospital for 13 days for abdominal surgery in January, is not expected to return to public duties until June – when all eyes will be peeled for the handsome new hire at her side.