King Charles’ ‘Hot Equerry’ Lt. Col. Jonny Thompson Makes Rare Appearance with Royal Family on Christmas Day
Thompson, nicknamed “Major Eye Candy” for his dashing good looks, stepped into a more behind-the-scenes role earlier this year amid social media frenzy over him
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Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, equerry to King Charles III, attends the Royal Windsor Endurance event in Windsor Great Park on day 3 of the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 3, 2024 in Windsor, EnglandKing Charles’ “hot equerry” Lt. Col. Jonny Thompson is still on royal duty — and made a rare front-facing appearance on Christmas Day!
Thompson — who opted for a more behind-the-scenes role following the massive amounts of attention he received for his handsome looks — joined the royal family for their annual Dec. 25 walkabout following church at St. Mary Magdalene at Sandringham. In this clip, Thompson can be seen walking behind Kate Middleton carrying armfuls of flowers as the Princess of Wales, 42, wishes members of the crowd a merry Christmas.
Related: King Charles' 'Hot Equerry' Shifts Role Out of Public Eye Following Online Frenzy
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Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson (equerry to King Charles III) attends The Braemar Gathering 2024 at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on Sept. 7, 2024 in Braemar, ScotlandThis past February, Thompson — who became known as the “hot equerry” and “Major Eye Candy” and became an online sensation after King Charles took the throne in September 2022 — transitioned into a new, less public post, The Times reported. A palace source told the outlet that Thompson “remains senior equerry to the King and the Queen, in a more executive and less public-facing role.”
The Times added that Thompsin is “understood not to have enjoyed the public attention he received after attending several high-profile events with the King.”
Thompson went viral on social media just a few days after the death of Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 8, 2022, and the frenzy only intensified after King Charles’ coronation in May 2023. Thompson is a member of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and rose through the ranks to become Queen Elizabeth’s most senior bodyguard. He was promoted to Super Equerry to King Charles after her death over two years ago, Tatler reported.
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Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson (equerry to King Charles III) attends day one of Royal Ascot 2024 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2024 in Ascot, EnglandRelated: King Charles' 'Hot Equerry' Joins Royals at Easter After Shifting from Public-Facing Role
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Though Thompson has indeed been mostly behind-the-scenes since his February role changeup, he was seen at Easter services with the royal family this spring and made news in October when it was announced that he had gotten engaged to Olivia Lewis, a PR executive that Thompson reportedly met while working for King Charles and Queen Camilla. The Mail on Sunday reported that the couple were said to be “well-matched and very happy.”
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