Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson equerry to King Charles greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Buckingham Palace 080223 CREDIT PA Images Alamy Stock Photo.jpg — Lt Col Thompson greets Ukrainian President Zelensky as he arrives for an audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace in February 2023 (Picture: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Royals

What is an equerry and why are they such important figures in the Royal Household?

The King's equerry, who has become something of a social media sensation, is making headlines after announcing his engagement.

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson caused a stir online as the so-called "hot equerry" after videos of him at high-profile Royal events went viral following King Charles' accession in September 2022.

Last year, he was even included on Tatler's Social Power Index, drawn up to show "where the real power lies in British society".

Joining the Army in 2006, Lt Col Thompson served in the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and rose through the ranks to become Queen Elizabeth II's most senior bodyguard.

Following the death of the Queen in 2022, he was promoted to Super Equerry to the King, playing a major role at his coronation.

Lt Col Thompson's attendance at Royal events caught the eye of onlookers, with social media fans dubbing him "Major Eye Candy".

He is not the first high-profile equerry, with perhaps the most famous being Group Captain Peter Townsend who was equerry to the late Queen and fell in love with Princess Margaret.

The Queen's Equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, places a bouquet of flowers at the grave of the Unknown Warrior on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey 071120 CREDIT PA. — The late Queen's equerry, Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, places a bouquet of flowers at the grave of the Unknown Warrior on her behalf during a ceremony in London's Westminster Abbey in 2020 (Picture: PA)

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.

They help oversee the running of their daily diary of official engagements and accompany them on most public duties and overseas tours.

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.

Equerries are often described as the King or Queen's "eyes and ears" and are considered among the most important figures in the Royal Household.

Usually, they spend three years in the role.

In February, the King made history when he appointed Captain Kat Anderson as the first female equerry to a sovereign.

The Royal Artillery officer took over the role as Lt Col Thompson became Super Equerry, which a source described to The Times as "a more executive and less public-facing role".

Traditionally, the officer was appointed to the Royal Household to be in charge of the horses.