EXCLUSIVE: Charles III's dashing kilt-clad equerry who is happily wed

2022-09-15

EXCLUSIVE Sorry ladies, he’s taken! Charles III’s dashing kilt-clad equerry, 39, who has set pulses racing while serving at new King’s side has been happily married to horse-riding marketing executive for 13 years

EXCLUSIVE: Kilt-wearing Army equerry for King Charles has legion of admirers
Major Jonathan Thompson, 39, served as the Queen’s most senior bodyguard
The dashing soldier married marketing manager wife Caroline, 44, in 2010
The happy couple share a son, and two black labradors named Odin and Piper
Click here for MailOnline’s coverage of today as the Queen’s body lies in state
The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

The kilt-wearing hunky Army officer and the equerry for King Charles who has won a legion of admirers has been happily married to a glamorous marketing executive for more than 13 years, MailOnline can reveal.

Major Jonathan Thompson, 39, of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, was once the Queen’s most senior bodyguard but is now serving His Majesty and has been seen constantly at his side.

The dashing soldier is thought of as something of a ‘braw darling’ – ‘hunk’ in Scottish slang – by Royal watchers and has acquired an army of fans for his dashing good looks as he has been at the King’s side in the past week.

In recent days he has found himself thrust front-and-centre at historic Royal events as the equerry of King Charles III, having served in the role when he was Prince of Wales.

Major Thompson, known to friends as ‘Johnny’, tied the knot with marketing manager Caroline, 44, in 2010 and the couple have a four-year-old son as well as two black labradors called Odin and Piper – a nod to his military time in Scotland.

Last Saturday 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 following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Major Jonathan Thompson of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, pictured on the left of the frame behind the Queen’s coffin, accompanied the procession

Major Thompson (pictured left) cracked a smile as he walked with the Queen through the gates of Balmoral Castle earlier this year, before the monarch’s death

Major Thompson, known to friends as ‘Johnny’, tied the knot with marketing manager and keen equestrian Caroline, 44, (pictured above) in 2010

Major Jonathan Thompson (pictured right) of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland was once the Queen’s most senior bodyguard

Contrary to most people believing he is Scottish, Major 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 thought to have been working as an equerry with Charles for 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

Wife Caroline was educated at Windsor Girls School and nearby Strodes College where she passed three A levels in media, psychology and photography before obtaining an HND at Southampton Institute in Design Communications.

She has worked for Packard Bell, BMW and is also a gym instructor and keen horse rider, and last year with her marketing and design skills helped set up the website for charity Horses4Health.

A biography on the site set up last year says: ’Caroline has been riding for over thirty years and bought her New Forest mare ‘Bonnie’ as a yearling almost 16 years ago.

‘The partnership has done a bit of everything over the years from hacking and showing to showjumping and horse trials but since the birth of Caroline’s son in 2018 they are now enjoying a slightly less competitive life.

‘Caroline worked in the marketing industry for 11 years before getting married in 2010 to Jonny – a serving member of the Armed Forces. It was this that spurred her on to take the plunge to change careers to become a Personal Trainer and Exercise Referral specialist.

Major Thompson (pictured right) had previously accompanied Queen Elizabeth II upon her arrival at Balmoral earlier this summer, prior to her death

Major Thompson (right) was pictured on Friday with Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss (left)

‘This began her interest in mental health and the benefits that exercise can have on it.

‘Her own struggles led her to discover first-hand how both physical exercise and horses can greatly help with mental health and it was this that encouraged her to initially volunteer to help with The Great Horses For Health Relay in January 2021.

‘She has since got back into working in the world of marketing / project management due to it fitting in better with her other life commitments.

‘Caroline was responsible for building the first Horses4Health website as well as being on the main organising committee for the event.

‘Caroline currently lives in Surrey with her husband, four year old son and two dogs, Odin and Piper, but has spent a lot of time living in various parts of Scotland, as well as Berkshire and Wiltshire, This is the seventh house she has lived in since she got married 12 years ago… the joys of being an Army family!’

Major Thompson was also seen in the procession on Wednesday, when the Queen’s coffin was escorted from Buckingham palace to Westminster Hall for the four days of lying in state.

TV footage caught him to the side as the casket was brought in and he was seen speaking briefly to the Duke of Kent.

Last Friday Major Thompson escorted PM Liz Truss to meet the King at Buckingham Palace and as always he wore a tartan kilt and large fur sporran.

He was also spotted standing behind Harry and Meghan at the Platinum Jubilee celebration National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Major Thompson’s parents Ian and Elizabeth, were once neighbours of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, with their Grade A listed 300-year-old home in Deeside set next door to his but they have since moved on.

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