King's 'hot equerry' Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson announces engagement
A senior aide to King Charles, who became an internet sensation for his "dashing" looks, is engaged.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson will marry Olivia Lewis, a PR executive, announcing their engagement in The Times.
Thompson, 40, found fame among fans following his appearance at a number of high-profile royal events including Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the coronation and US President Joe Biden's visit to Windsor.
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Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, equerry to King Charles III, at Windsor Castle in March. Getty
He earned the nickname the "hot equerry" and was known for dressing in a kilt, serving with the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Thompson's popularity spread online with many accounts on Instagram sharing photos of him from various engagements, calling him "Major Eye Candy".
Last year, Thompson was included on British magazine Tatler's Social Power Index.
Now, he is off the market.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson has announced his engagement to a PR executive. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
The solider has announced his engagement to Lewis and the pair is said to have met while the PR executive was working for Charles and Queen Camilla.
It was previously reported Thompson, who had separated from his wife two years earlier, had "found new love" with Lewis.
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They also appeared together at Trooping the Colour in June.
It's unclear when Thompson and Lewis will marry.
Queen Elizabeth II, with then-Major Johnny Thompson, at Balmoral Castle in 2018. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Their engagement notice read: "The engagement is announced between Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, son of Mr and Mrs Alan Thompson of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Olivia Rose, daughter of Mr and Mrs Simon Lewis OBE of Primrose Hill, London".
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Lieutenant Thompson was previously employed as one of the late Queen's most senior bodyguards, before moving to service the King.
But he found the fame uncomfortable when attending high-profile events with the King and was moved to a "less public-facing role" in February.
Johnny Thompson during a welcome ceremony for US President Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in in 2023. Getty
A palace source said Thompson "remains senior equerry to the King and the Queen, in a more executive and less public-facing role".
He now helps the King with private matters and last year was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel.
Lieutenant Thompson accompanied the royal family to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2023 and joined the King and Queen in Rwanda for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting.
In an interview with the BBC, Thompson spoke about joining the late Queen at Balmoral, saying: "One evening myself and my wife, we were invited to one of the bothies on the estates to dine with Her Majesty."
He continued: "She straight away would start making the salad dressing, setting the table and the night culminated with me doing the washing up alongside her, which is a lovely memory."
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