King Charles III’s equerry will leave his role in the Royal Household and Armed Forces, Buckingham Palace has said today.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, who serves as senior equerry to both King Charles III and Queen Camilla, will depart at the end of the year.

The military officer, who works as a personal assistant to the King, plans to pursue a role in the private sector, the Palace said.

This means that he will leave the British Army after nearly 22 years of military service.

A spokesman said: ‘Their Majesties were of course aware of this plan in advance and I know they are most grateful to Jonny for his support over the past seven years and wish him all the best for the future.’

Thompson, of Morpeth in Northumberland, has caught the eye of royal fans over the years, even earning nicknames on social media such as ‘Major Eye Candy’.

Many were said to be disappointed that he had been married to his wife Caroline since 2010, with whom he had a son.

After later divorcing, he then married his second wife, Olivia Lewis, who is a PR executive, in a ‘low-key ceremony’ last year.

It is believed that he met Olivia while working for Charles and Camilla.

Thompson, who joined the British Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006, 2009 and 2011, became one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most senior bodyguards following his tours.

In December 2019, he then became equerry to Charles and Camilla when they were the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.

After Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, Thompson then remained with Charles and stood beside him during his Coronation at Westminster Abbey.

In October 2023, he was promoted to the role of’senior equerry’, which sees him serve as the monarch’s right-hand man.

But reports from the time suggested that he had become ‘uncomfortable’ with the attention he received from admirers online, which is why he took the promotion to be more behind the scenes.

His exit from his position comes after the King’s private secretary Sir Clive Alderton also announced that he will be departing next year.

Alongside him, the King’s butler Bernie Flannery will be stepping down after more than 40 years.

From 2005-2006, Thompson attended Sandhurst’s Royal Military Academy and has served in the British Army ever since.

MORE: Andrew’s former Royal Lodge home is up for grabs – but at a big cost

MORE: King Charles sends ‘deepest condolences’ after death of ‘dear cousin’ the King of Norway

MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle land in Birmingham on private jet