King Charles rocked as senior aide Jonny Thompson quits Buckingham Palace

Lt. Col. Thompson will also leave his role in the British Army, marking the end of an extraordinary military career.

He was a member of the Fifth Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, having joined the army in 2006, aged 22.

He previously worked as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s most senior bodyguard, before becoming the Senior Equerry to King Charles.

A Buckingham Palace 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."

It is understood the Lieutenant will pursue a career in the private sector.

Before taking on his role at the Palace, Lt. Col. Thompson served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Later, he led the ceremonial and military support for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s annual residence in Balmoral in 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, he was appointed as Equerry to the Prince and Princess of Wales, before becoming the King’s Equerry following his ascension to the throne in 2022.

Just two years later, in 2024, he was promoted to Senior Equerry to the King and Queen.

The Lieutenant was thrust into the spotlight during the King’s State Visit to the US in April of this year, on which he accompanied the monarch.

Notably, he was present at the star-studded fifth Annual King’s Trust Global Gala, hosted in New York’s Rockefeller Center, where American lifestyle icon Martha Stewart bumped into the viral royal aide.

And earlier this month, Lt. Col. Thompson was seen sitting alongside Lady Louise Windsor at The Royal Windsor Horse Show during an evening display.

He married his PR executive wife Olivia, who is the daughter of former communications secretary to Queen Elizabeth, Simon Lewis, in May 2025, following the pair’s engagement in October 2024.

The pair welcomed their first child, Theodora, in May.

He shares another child with Caroline Thompson, though the pair split in 2022.