Lt. Cdr. Dixon, who has served as an equerry to the Royal Household since 2020, called his experience “a remarkable journey” but wrote “it’s time to move on.”
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Prince William, Prince of Wales and Commander Rob Dixon (Equerry of Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup 2023 at Guards Polo Club, Flemish Farm on July 6, 2023 in Windsor, England
Prince William‘s right-hand man and royal equerry resigns after four years of service.
Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon, who was first appointed to the Royal Household in 2020, shared in a emotional LinkedIn post that it was “time to move on” from his role.
“I have had the most incredible opportunity to serve in a role that not only challenged me, but also allowed me to grow, learn and contribute meaningfully alongside a talented and passionate team,” Dixon wrote on 29 November alongside photos of him with Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Harry and other royals.
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Commander Rob Dixon (Equerry of Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales) attends the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2023 in London, England
“I am extremely grateful for the support, cooperation and friendships that have developed over the past four years. It has been a remarkable journey and I look forward to bringing the skills and insights I have gained into my next appointments,” he continued.
Dixon highlighted the opportunity to play “a small role” in the April 2021 funeral Prince Philipthe platinum anniversary celebrations of june 2022 for Queen Elizabeth and the monarch’s funeral three months later, the May 2023 coronation King Charles And Queen Camille and “everything weird and wonderful in between!” he wrote.
“There were arrangements where our entire household was involved, every single person, and there were times when I was quite rightly on my own, in charge and supporting the decisions I had made,” he added. “Now is the time to once again swap the top hat and tails for ‘everyday implements,’ and that’s the right thing to do.”
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Prince William, Prince of Wales and Commander Rob Dixon (Equerry of Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales) attend the Sovereign’s Parade on behalf of King Charles III at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell on September 12, 2024 in Sleaford, England
The Daily Mail reported that Dixon is leaving his role as equerry to return to his post in the Royal Navy, where he served for almost 24 years. Equerries are officers from one of the three branches of the armed forces chosen to assist senior royals with their respective royal duties, from organizing their public appearances to arranging their official schedules. There are around six equerrys working for the Royal Household at any one time, and these are appointments that generally last around three years. For context, Dixon has served for more than four years, following his appointment in September 2020.
It is known that Captain Peter Townsend was an equerry to King George VI, although he was perhaps more famous for his relationship with King George VI’s youngest daughter. Princess Margaretha.
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Related: Heartbroken Princess Margaret canceled her wedding to Captain Peter Townsend 65 years ago today
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Rob Dixon (L) and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 15, 2022 in London, England
“The role of an Equerry is finite, and handing it over to an enthusiastic, new set of eyes is all part of the process,” Dixon’s post continued. “The goal of any military role should be to serve, lead and support your team, strive for success and then go further and higher. I am excited to do just that.”
Dixon joined the team when William and Kate were still the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and helped them through the transition when they became Prince and Princess of Wales in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
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Commander Rob Dixon (Equerry of Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales) attends a Thanksgiving service for Admiral The Lord Boyce at Westminster Abbey on July 13, 2023 in London, England
“I will be forever grateful to everyone who played a role alongside me in ‘Team Cambridge’ and ‘Team Wales’, as well as my wonderful Principals,” Dixon concluded his post, referring to Prince William and Princess Kate, both 42. “I wish you all fair winds and following seas.”
Prince William’s new equerry is Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds, a trained helicopter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force.
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