Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, nicknamed the King’s Hot Equerry on social media, is engaged to his socialite PR executive girlfriend Olivia Lewis.
Olivia’s father is Simon Lewis, who was once the late queen’s communications chief and the man credited with “rescuing” her reputation in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death.
Moving from the Palace to No. 10, Lewis became the adviser to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Olivia once worked for King Charles and Queen Camilla, which is how she met Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, 40, and the newly engaged couple arrived arm-in-arm at this year’s Trooping the Color.
Their happy news was shared on The times today, with a statement saying: “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.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson and Olivia Lewis were seen leaving Clarence House to watch the Trooping the Color procession in June 2024.
Olivia’s uncle is former Daily Telegraph editor Sir Will Lewis, now editor and chief executive of the Washington Post.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson became known as Hot Equerry after his appearance at the Coronation and other high-profile engagements, and was nicknamed ‘Major Eye Candy’ by fans on social media.
Clearly popular with the King and Queen, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson was promoted last year to become Charles’s right-hand man or “super-squire”.
He joined them at the front of the Royal Family procession to Sandringham Church on Christmas Day.
From now on, his role will be more position-based, meaning he will be seen less in public as he helps organize the King’s private affairs.
He serves in the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the decision to extend his army secondment to allow him to remain in the Royal Household was seen as an indication of how highly he is valued.
He recounted a memory of spending time with the late queen at Balmoral.
He told the BBC: ‘One evening my wife and I were invited to one of the estates’ Bothies (cottages) to dine with Her Majesty.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson married a marketing manager, 12 years older than Olivia Lewis, in 2010. They separated in 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson became known as Hot Equerry following his appearance at the Coronation and other high-profile engagements, and was nicknamed ‘Major Eye Candy’ by fans on social media.
“She would immediately start making the salad dressing, setting the table, and the night would culminate with me washing the dishes next to her, which is a beautiful memory.”
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson married a marketing manager, 12 years older than Olivia Lewis, in 2010.
He had a son with her in 2018 and they share two black Labradors called Odin and Piper, a nod to Maj Thompson’s military days in Scotland.
After 12 years of marriage, they separated in 2022. They lived in at least seven houses due to his military career.