King Charles promotes Major Johnny Thompson to top role

King Charles’s equerry Major Johnny Thompson – dubbed “Major Eye Candy” by fans – has been promoted to a significant new role within the royal family.

King Charles has issued a significant promotion to equerry Major Johnny Thompson — making him the monarch’s new right-hand man.

Major Thompson went viral after catching the public’s attention at the Queen’s funeral and the King’s Coronation in May, leading social media users to dub him “Major Eye Candy”, and now it seems as though we’ll be seeing more of him.

“The King’s pulling a decent trick by picking a social media sensation to be his right-hand man,” a source told The Sun, adding that the “fabulous” aide will now become a “super equerry.”

King Charles has issued a significant promotion to Major Johnny Thompson — making him the monarch’s new right-hand man. Picture: Getty Images

Already an equerry, he is being promoted after impressing the King and Queen Camilla.

The 40-year-old army officer came third on Tatler’s Social Power Index, which noted his “unique brand of quiet, charming power”.

The society bible also described Major Thompson as having “a fabulous sense of humour” and looking “as good in a suit as he does in a kilt”.

Major Johnny Thompson — who has worked with King Charles since 2020 — is responsible for the “planning and execution” of the monarch's daily programs Picture: Getty Images

Major Johnny Thompson, of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, is reportedly set to leave the Army “within [the next] 18 months". Picture: Getty Images

“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 magazine noted.

Major Thompson, who is known for appearing alongside the Royal Family in kilts, will now organise the King’s private affairs.

Major Johnny Thompson (centre) caught the public’s eye at the King’s coronation in May. Picture: Getty Images

An equerry is an officer of the British royal household who assists members of the family, with Major Thompson tending to King Charles since the death of Queen Elizabeth last year.

Major Thompson — who is said to have worked with King Charles since 2020 — is responsible for the “planning and execution” of the king’s daily programs.

Equerries are chosen from senior officers of the British Army.

Major Johnny Thompson with Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla. Picture: Getty Images

Lt Col Thompson, of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, gained an online following after emerging as the late Queen’s bodyguard in 2018.

And in May, he received a pop star-style welcome on the King and Queen’s official visit to Northern Ireland.

An insider said: “He is due to leave the Army within 18 months and with that his role as equerry.

“But by (Charles) taking him on in a super equerry role, people will be seeing a lot more of him.

Unfortunately for admirers, Major Thompson is off the market and has been married to his wife Caroline since 2010.