Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, King Charles and Queen Camilla's popular senior equerry, is to leave the royal household at the end of the year after 22 years of military service, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. Thompson, 43, became widely recognised by royal watchers for his prominent role at major events following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, including standing beside Charles at his Coronation, and is now moving into the private sector. The palace said the King and Queen were aware of his plans in advance and thanked him for his support over the past seven years.

Thompson joined the British Army in 2005, served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and became one of the late Queen's most senior bodyguards, often photographed alongside her at Balmoral before becoming equerry to Charles and Camilla in December 2019. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the demanding, high-pressure nature of the role likely made a change inevitable given Thompson's new family life; he married PR executive Olivia Lewis in May 2025 and the couple welcomed a daughter, Theodora, earlier this year.