When Prince William’s right-hand man stepped down after four years of loyal service, he left with an emotional declaration.

‘I’ve had the most incredible opportunity to serve in a role that not only challenged me, but allowed me to grow, to learn and to make meaningful contributions alongside a talented and passionate team,’ said Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon in 2024.

It was, the equerry declared sorrowfully, ‘time to move on’ from his role.

Happily, he has now found solace in an equally passionate team member: Natasha Archer, who was the Princess of Wales’s right-hand woman at the time.

The Daily Mail can disclose that Ms Archer – whose separation from her husband, the royal photographer Chris Jackson, was revealed last year – is in a relationship with Lt Cdr Dixon, 43.

He and Ms Archer, 37, have started attending social events as a couple. Last week, they rubbed shoulders with Hollywood stars including Margot Robbie at a launch for US furniture giant RH’s store in Mayfair.

Ms Archer’s husband was said to be distraught at the end of their marriage. ‘He was devastated and didn’t see it coming,’ one of his friends told this newspaper. The pair married in 2017 and have two young sons.

Mr Jackson is hugely popular in royal circles. Queen Camilla is particularly fond of the photographer, whom she and King Charles chose to take their portrait on their 20th wedding anniversary in Italy last year. 

Natasha Archer (right) fell for Prince William’s dashing right-hand man, Rob Dixon (left)

Natasha Archer and ex-husband Chris Jackson at the Cartier Queen’s Cup Polo final at Guards Polo Club on June 18, 2017 in Egham

Kate pictured speaking with Natasha, with William next to her, during a rugby match in Sydney, Australia in 2014

Prince William and Commander Rob Dixon attend the Sovereign’s Parade on behalf of King Charles at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell on September 12, 2024 in Sleaford

When it was disclosed a year ago that Ms Archer was leaving Kensington Palace after 15 years, royal watchers noted that Kate would miss her ‘invaluable’ aide. 

Two months later, I revealed in this newspaper’s diary column, Eden Confidential, that she and Mr Jackson had separated. ‘They haven’t been together for some time,’ a friend claimed.

Ms Archer left the palace to set up a fashion consultancy firm. She was credited with overhauling the princess’s image and had been at Kate’s side on social occasions and accompanied her on overseas trips. 

Hired as an assistant or ‘girl Friday’ to Kate in 2010, she was awarded the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Royal Family in 2019. Ms Archer was promoted to senior private executive assistant three years later.

Lt Cdr Dixon was appointed to the Royal Household in 2020. When he left the Palace, he said: ‘I am immensely grateful for the friendships formed during these last four years.’ In a post online, he said moving on was ‘the right thing to do’.

He returned to his post in the Royal Navy. Equerries are officers from the Armed Forces chosen to assist senior royals in their duties. Earlier this year,

Lt Cdr Dixon left the Navy to become an adviser at the Ministry of Defence. He and Ms Archer declined to comment.