The King’s handsome equerry Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson was on hand today as he joined the Royal Family for their annual Christmas walkabout at Sandringham.
Following closely behind His Majesty, Mr Thompson, dubbed as ‘Major Eye Candy’ on TikTok, walked with senior royals as crowds lined the road outside the St Mary Magdalene Church for the traditional Christmas Day service on the Norfolk estate.
King Charles was joined by Camilla, the Queen Consort, at the head of the group, while the Waleses walked just behind them alongside their three children George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five.
Mr Thompson put on a dapper display in a navy blue suit and blue blazer jacket.
The King’s handsome equerry first won over admirers at the Queen’s funeral, gaining a legion of fans thanks to his brooding good looks.
The King’s handsome equerry Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson was on hand today as he joined the Royal Family for their annual Christmas walkabout at Sandringham
Following closely behind His Majesty, Mr Thompson, dubbed as ‘Major Eye Candy’ on TikTok , walked with senior royals as crowds lined the road outside the St Mary Magdalene Church for the traditional Christmas Day service on the Norfolk estate
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson can be seen standing behind Prince Andrew
Once the Queen’s most senior bodyguards, he now serves His Majesty and was seen proudly standing next to King Charles’ side during the Coronation.
Earlier this year, he made third place on Tatler’s Social Power Index, which details where the ‘real power lies in Britain’.
Outside of his royal duties Lt Col Jonathan Thompson of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland lives in Surrey and is a father-of-one and loving husband to his marketing manager wife Caroline, 44.
The devoted couple have been happily married since 2010 and welcomed their son in 2018. They also have two black Labradors called Odin and Piper – a nod to his military time in Scotland.
Just behind King Charles III and Queen Camila (at number one, natch), and billionaire businessman Sanjay and his fashion designer wife Anu Hinduja (at number two), the dashing equerry has cemented himself as one of the influential names to know in the UK.
According to Tatler, Johnny has a ‘fabulous sense of humour’ and has the ability to looks as good in a suit as he does a kilt.
The wrote: ‘It is from within the palace walls that the King’s equerry wields his unique brand of quiet, charming power; but he’s spotted where it counts, at the coronation, or on the opening night of the Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery in Fitzrovia, for example, to which he wore a bunny tie and charmed India Rose James.’
The King and Queen are to celebrate Christmas Day alongside other members of the royal family at Sandringham
Lt Col Thompson, pictured at the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March, was added to a prestigious society list
Lt Col Thompson (right) is pictured with the late Queen last year as she inspected the Balaclava Company, 5th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates at Balmoral as she took up summer residence at the castle
During May’s Coronation of King Charles, viewers rushed to social media to discuss not just the crowning of the monarch but the very handsome man by his side.
‘Must admit there were times when I was a bit distracted today,’ one tweeted.
‘Major Jonathan Thompson is why we watch the coronation,’ another added. ‘Look at his beauty and his thick calves too.’
Other admirers also couldn’t help but point out the army officer’s striking good looks as another fan wrote: ‘Anyone else clocked the dashing chap in the kilt?’
‘Good to see the hot Groom of the Robes, Lt Col Jonathan Thompson do some actual disrobing,’ tweeted another.
Lt Col Thompson is so handsome that some admirers even became a little territorial and warned others to keep their ‘hands off’.
‘That’s the dashing major Johnny. Hands off!!’ wrote one Twitter user.
The officer became an object of royal watchers’ affections last year after he was thrust front-and-centre at historic Royal events following the Queen’s death.
He was caught on camera calmly and coolly removing a pen tray which was cluttering the King’s desk, as Charles signed the Proclamation which named him as the new monarch.
The King’s handsome kilt-clad equerry, Lt Col Jonathan Thompson, left hearts racing after he proudly stood by the monarch’s side during the Coronation
Lt Col Thompson welcomed then-PM Liz Truss to Buckingham Palace last autumn
Lt Col Thompson welcomed Rishi Sunak to at Buckingham Palace last October ahead of his audience with King Charles, where he was invited to become Prime Minister
He was also seen in the procession when the Queen’s coffin was escorted from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the four days of lying in state.
He greeted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during his trip to the UK back in February and escorted then-Prime Minister Liz Truss to meet the King at Buckingham Palace in October 2022.
He was also spotted standing behind Harry and Meghan at the Platinum Jubilee celebration National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral last June.
His role as an equerry, an officer of the royal household who assists members of the royal family, involves assisting the King with his daily duties, standing beside him at public events and looking after the monarch’s carriages, coaches, and Rolls-Royces used at state ceremonies.
Lt Col Thompson has had a relationship with the royal family for several years. He has been one of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland since 2006 and previously served as one of the Queen’s most senior bodyguards.
Contrary to most people believing he is Scottish, Lt Col Thompson was actually born in Morpeth, Northumberland, and now lives with his family in Surrey.
He joined the Army in 2006 and is a Platoon commander, according to his LinkedIn. He is believed to have been working as an equerry with Charles for at least the last two years.
His profile also reveals how he attended Aberystwyth University where he graduated in 2004 with a degree in Economics and politics with international studies and he gave his hobbies and interests as rugby and mountaineering and he was also a member of the undergraduate officer training corps.