The father of Kate Middleton’s new assistant has admitted that his son bears a striking resemblance to tennis superstar Roger Federer.
Royal fans were quick to comment on how much Lieutenant Colonel Tom White looks like the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, his father Garry said his friends first noticed the resemblance when Federer first became world number one, back in 2004.
“He’s got a Roger Federer look to him – all our friends say that,” Garry said outside his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Many people have commented on it frequently.
Pictured: Lieutenant Colonel Tom White with his wife Stephanie.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom White has become the new assistant to Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
Friends first noticed the resemblance between Colonel White and Federer when the latter became world number one for the first time, back in 2004.
The handsome former Royal Marine Commando, who was this week appointed as the Princess of Wales’s new private secretary, is also a talented tennis player, but is no match for his double.
Garry, 66, a former government worker, said: “He has played tennis but not to the level of Roger Federer” before adding “I wish I could play like him.”
Garry said his son was a great sportsman and, although he did not talk about his new royal role, he could not hide his pride in his military career.
“Ultimately it is a Royal Navy command and we are very proud of what it has achieved,” he said. He comes from fairly humble origins.’
White and his wife Stephanie, 37,’s love of sports is evident in the photos on their social media. A photo shows the happy couple smiling while enjoying a snowboarding vacation in Vermont, United States.
Pictured: Lt. Col. Tom White’s parents, Gary, 66, and Kay, 67.
Pictured: Lt. Col. Tom White in uniform with his wife Stephanie.
Other photographs are from their wedding day a decade ago with a happy photo showing the couple walking arm in arm.
Another shows his comrades from his regiment forming an honor guard with their ceremonial swords as the smiling couple leave the church.
In another, Stephanie posed with half a dozen members of her regiment holding her in their arms as she lay horizontally outside the church for a fun photo.
The couple, who now live in London, own a £635,000 home in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and have a young daughter.
They had previously lived in Exeter, near White’s regiment, the 42 Commando, and near their parents in Portsmouth.
Royal fans were quick to comment on the similarity in appearance between White and Federer, 42, when his appointment was made public.
Over the years, the Swiss star has developed a close friendship with the princess, an avid tennis player and fan.
Pictured: Stephanie posed with half a dozen members of White’s regiment holding her in their arms as she lay horizontally outside the church.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom White and his wife Stephanie on their wedding day a decade ago
The pair played together on the court last year as part of a film celebrating the role of ball boys in the lawn tennis championship.
Kate even scored the winning shot in a friendly doubles match, leaving the eight-time Wimbledon champion to exclaim “Unbelievable.”
Federer, who retired from competitive tennis in 2022, has also given Prince George some lessons.
Once Kate recovers from her surgery and resumes her royal duties, Federer and his doppelgänger are likely to go head-to-head at Wimbledon this summer.
The similarity has already been noted on social media: One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Oh, he looks like Roger Federer,” followed by an emoji with a heart in his eyes.
Pictured: Gary and Kay White on vacation
Another wrote: “He’s so handsome.”
Lieutenant Colonel White is likely to fit perfectly into his new role as Kate’s right-hand man.
He is no stranger to royal duties, having joined Buckingham Palace in 2020.
While equerry to the late Queen, he was seen with her at many events and welcomed Boris Johnson to Balmoral when he resigned as Prime Minister to hand over the role to Liz Truss.
His mother Kay, 67, told MailOnline that her son marched alongside the Queen’s coffin at her funeral.
“He was with the Queen until the end,” he said.
Her son became the favorite for the coveted role of the princess’s squire when he was invited to join her last November at an upcoming engagement.
Pictured: Gary and Kay White.
In addition to good looks, White is also a decorated war hero.
He helped prevent tragedy in Helmand province in 2009 as a member of the 42nd Commando, after the Taliban booby-trapped a school.
The elite force detected the wires of the device, which was set to be activated by a pressure plate that would be activated when their troops broke down the locked door of the school hall.
Then, at age 22, Lieutenant White, who was commander of the 7th Troop, later said, “It makes you sick to your stomach to think what could have happened if we hadn’t found the bombs.”
‘These people knew they could have blown up a lot of children, and they didn’t care.
‘I have a pretty low opinion of someone who would bomb a school. “They don’t value young life at all.”
In his new role, Lieutenant Colonel White has been appointed Director of the Royal Prince and Princess of Wales Foundation.
The foundation is the main philanthropic and charitable vehicle for the royal couple and focuses on conservation and mental health.