Equerry
An equerry is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a sovereign, a member of a royal family, or a national representative. The role is equivalent to an aide-de-camp, but the term is prevalent only among some members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Australia
Australian equerries are commissioned officers in the Australian Defence Force, appointed on an ad hoc basis to the King of Australia, Governor General, state governors or to visiting foreign heads of state.Canada
Canadian equerries are drawn from the commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces, and are most frequently appointed to serve visiting members of the Canadian Royal Family. The equerry appointed for the King of Canada is a senior officer, typically a major or a lieutenant-commander, while the equerry appointed for a child of the monarch is a junior officer, typically a captain or naval lieutenant.New Zealand
New Zealand equerries are appointed to serve the monarch of New Zealand only for the duration of a royal visit to the country, and are always drawn from the officers of the New Zealand Defence Force, typically captains, flight lieutenants, and navy lieutenants.Flight Lieutenant John Hamilton was equerry to Queen Elizabeth II when she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited New Zealand in 1981. Squadron Leader Leanne Woon of the Operational Support Squadron, part of the Royal [New Zealand Air Force], was the equerry to the Queen during the most recent royal visit in 2002. She was the only woman to serve as an equerry to the monarch anywhere in the Commonwealth until the appointment of Captain Katherine Anderson Royal Artillery as the British Equerry to King Charles III in 2024. Captain Sam Stevenson of the New Zealand Army served as equerry to the Duke of Cambridge during his 2005 visit to New Zealand. Squadron Leader Marcel 'Shagga' Scott of the Royal New Zealand Air Force served as equerry to HRH Prince Charles in November 2012. Squadron Leader Tim Costley of the Royal New Zealand Air Force served as equerry to the Duke of Cambridge during the 2014 Royal visit to New Zealand by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George.
United Kingdom
In the UK equerries are appointed by working members of the royal family and are drawn from junior officers of the British Armed Forces. The role involves being in regular close attendance both within the royal residence and outside on public engagements.The Royal Household also includes a number of "extra equerries" – honorary appointees drawn from among the current and retired senior officers of the Royal Household. They are comparatively rarely required for duty, but their attendance can be called upon if needed.
The Crown Equerry is in charge of the Royal Mews Department and holds a distinct office.
Equerries, temporary equerries and extra equerries are entitled to wear aiguillettes as part of their uniform, and to wear the appropriate royal cypher below their badges of rank on the shoulder board. Army officers serving as equerries or extra equerries may wear a distinctive cocked hat when on duty in full dress uniform.
Present day
At the time of King Charles III's accession to the throne, the 'Household of the former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall' included two equerries.As of February 2024 the King's Household included individuals who have served as equerries:
| Years | Name | Unit | Notes |
| 2022– | Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan "Jonny" Thompson | Royal Regiment of Scotland | Promoted to Senior Equerry in 2023 |
| 2024–2025 | Commander Will Thornton | Royal Navy | |
| 2024– | Captain Hugh Scrope | Coldstream Guards | Assistant Equerry |
| 2024– | Captain Kat Anderson | Royal Artillery | Assistant Equerry; first female equerry to any sovereign |
Those appointed as extra equerries by King Charles III include:
Since 2022, Queen Camilla has appointed her own equerry, including:
| Years | Name | Unit | Notes |
| 2025– | Major Rob Treasure | The Rifles | |
| 2022–2025 | Major Oliver Plunket | The Rifles |
Other working members of the Royal Family can also appoint Equerries; in the case of more junior members the appointment might be combined with another post. Like the monarch, they may also appoint extra equerries.
Past
For most of her reign Queen Elizabeth II maintained an establishment of two equerries plus a temporary equerry: the senior equerry was a permanent appointment ; whereas the junior equerry was appointed in turn from each of the three services of the British Armed Forces. The temporary equerry was a captain of the Coldstream Guards, who provided part-time attendance, and who was assigned to regimental or staff duties.On overseas tours to Commonwealth realms an equerry was often appointed from the local armed forces to serve for the duration of the tour.
At her funeral, the late Queen's senior equerry and junior equerry, ten past equerries and two extra equerries marched together as pallbearers ; in this role they walked immediately alongside the late Queen's coffin in each of the state funeral processions which took place in London and Windsor.
Individuals who served as equerry to Elizabeth II include:
Those appointed by Elizabeth II as extra equerries included:
- Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave in 2019
- Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon in 2015
- Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt
- Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Matheson, younger of Matheson in 2006
- Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford in 2005
- Air Vice Marshal David Walker in 2005
- Group Captain Timothy Hewlett in 2001
- Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall in 2001
- Vice Admiral Tom Blackburn in 2000
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cartwright in 2000
Other senior royals generally followed the Queen's pattern of appointing an equerry from one of the three armed services, in rotation; and of appointing a temporary equerry, often from a regiment with which they had personal links: e.g. the Duke of Edinburgh used to appoint a temporary equerry from the Grenadier Guards, the Queen Mother one from the Irish Guards, the Prince of Wales one from the Welsh Guards.