Queen Camilla appoints new equerry, who continues a legacy of charity and duty
After three years of service as Her Majesty the Queen's right-hand man, Major Ollie Plunket, dubbed the "hot equerry", has hung up his sword, passing the reins to his successor.
Major Rob Treasure, 29, a platoon commander with 1st Battalion The Rifles, will not only follow in the footsteps of his predecessor in duty, but also in charitable endeavour, having completed 'the World's Toughest Row' earlier this year in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
In his new role as equerry, he will assist in managing Queen Camilla's daily schedule of official engagements and will accompany her on most public duties and overseas visits.
An officer of honour
The Queen announced the news during a speech ahead of an awards dinner celebrating The Rifles, of which she is Colonel-in-Chief.
Thanking Maj Plunket – a popular figure among royal fans – Her Majesty spoke highly of the "staunch equerry", noting that he "has excelled in everything he has done for me".
Appointed as the Queen's first equerry in 2022, he was at her side for many milestones, including accompanying her and the King to the Vatican in October for a historic meeting with Pope Leo XIV and laying the Queen's wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
As a teenager, he embarked on a solo motorbike ride from Argentina to Alaska, covering 24,500 miles, and raised more than £100,000 for wounded servicemen.
Now beginning his three-year role as equerry, his successor, Maj Treasure, has taken part in similar charitable feats.
Earlier this year, as part of the trio that goes by the name of Team V3nture, he joined fellow serving British Army officers Rob Cross and Charlie Newman in rowing a gruelling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in the World's Toughest Row.
He undertook the challenge in memory of his father, who died from cancer in 2021, and the team planned to raise at least £200,000 in sponsorship for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.
Celebrating the achievement, the regiment said it was "incredibly proud" of what he and his teammates have achieved, and that it "showcases the determination and bold spirit of British Army soldiers".
Maj Treasure's new appointment places him within a tradition that dates back centuries, with its origins tracing as far back as the Middle Ages.
What is an equerry?
An equerry is an officer from one of the armed services who acts as a formal assistant to a senior member of the Royal Family.
Often described as the King or Queen's "eyes and ears", they are considered among the most important figures in the Royal Household.
A monarch's equerry would also be expected to look after carriages, coaches and Rolls-Royces used at state ceremonies, including Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament.
They will usually spend three years in the role, and it is thought that the monarch chooses their own equerry.
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