Equerry
An equerry (/ɪˈkwɛri, ˈɛkwəri/; from French écurie 'stable', and related to écuyer 'squire') 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 now prevalent only in the Commonwealth of Nations.
Australia[edit]
Australian equerries are commissioned officers in the Australian Defence Force, appointed on an ad hoc basis to the Queen of Australia, Governor General, state governors or to visiting foreign heads of state.[1]
Canada[edit]
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 Queen 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.
Canadian equerries are also sometimes appointed to serve national representatives of the country. Colonel the Hon Henry Jackman of The Governor General's Horse Guards, Canada's Household Cavalry regiment, is the equerry to Akaash Maharaj, in the latter's role as head of UNICEF Team Canada.[2]
New Zealand[edit]
New Zealand equerries are appointed to serve the Queen 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.
Squadron Leader Leanne Woon of the Operational Support Squadron, part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was the equerry to the Queen of New Zealand during the most recent royal visit in 2002. She is the only woman to serve as an equerry to the monarch anywhere in the Commonwealth.[3] Captain Sam Stevenson of the New Zealand Army served as equerry to the Duke of Cambridge during his 2005 visit to New Zealand.[4] 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[edit]

In the UK equerries are appointed by working members of the Royal Family and are drawn from senior officers of the British Armed Forces. The role involves being in regular close attendance both within the royal residence and outside on public engagements.[6]
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 to HM The Queen[edit]
The Queen has two equerries: the senior equerry is a permanent appointment (joined to the position of Deputy Master of the Household); whereas the junior equerry (who holds office for three years) is appointed in turn from each of the three services of the British Armed Forces.[6] There is also a Temporary Equerry (a captain of the Coldstream Guards) who provides part-time attendance; when not required for duty they will have additional regimental or staff duties. On overseas tours to Commonwealth realms an Equerry may be appointed from the local armed forces for the duration of the tour.[6]
Individuals who have served as equerry to Elizabeth II include:
Extra Equerries[edit]
Those appointed as Extra Equerries this century have included:
- Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood) in 2019[12]
- Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon (then Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, now Comptroller, the Lord Chamberlain's Office) in 2015[13]
- Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt (Master of the Household)[14]
- Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Matheson, younger of Matheson (then Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, now Senior Gentleman Usher) in 2006[15]
- Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford (Comptroller, the Lord Chamberlain's Office) in 2005[16]
- Air Vice Marshal David Walker (Master of the Household) in 2005[17]
- Group Captain Timothy Hewlett (Director of Royal Travel) in 2001[18]
- Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall (former Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps) in 2001[19]
- Vice Admiral Tom Blackburn (Master of the Household) in 2000[20]
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cartwright (Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood) in 2000[21]
Senior courtiers often continue as Extra Equerries (or may be appointed to the position) after retirement; as such, they are sometimes called upon to represent the Queen e.g. at funerals or memorial services for former colleagues.[22]
Equerries to other members of the Royal Family[edit]
Other working members of the Royal Family have also usually appointed Equerries. In the case of more junior members the appointment might be combined with another post. Senior royals have often had an equerry appointed in rotation from one of the three armed services, and have also had Temporary Equerries appointed (e.g. the Duke of Edinburgh used to have one appointed from the Grenadier Guards, the Queen Mother one from the Irish Guards, the Prince of Wales one from the Welsh Guards).[6] They may also appoint Extra Equerries.
Insignia[edit]
Equerries, Temporary Equerries and Extra Equerries are entitled to wear aiguillettes and to wear the appropriate royal cypher below their badges of rank on the shoulder board (or equivalent).[23]
See also[edit]
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References[edit]
- ^ PACMAN Archived 12 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Chapter 10, Part 3, Australian Defence Force, retrieved 20 February 2012
- ^ "He Lives by the Sword", Globe and Mail, 17 February 2007
- ^ "Transsexual MP greets the Queen as she lands in New Zealand" Archived 17 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Telegraph, 22 February 2002
- ^ "NZ envoy among diplomatic guests". NZ Herald. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Court Circular, 9 June 2018
- ^ a b c d Allison, Ronald; Riddell, Sarah, eds. (1991). The Royal Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan. p. 176.
- ^ a b c d Supplement to the London Gazette, Issue 39616, Page 4198, 1 August 1952
- ^ Royal Household of Buckingham Palace. "Diana, Princess of Wales biography". Royal.gov.uk, the official website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014.
Earl Spencer was Equerry to George VI from 1950 to 1952, and to The Queen from 1952 to 1954.
- ^ Jever Steam Laundry. "Air Commodore Henten Sylvester (Tony) Carver CBE, LVO". www.rafjever.org, Jever Steam Laundry promotes the irreverent camaraderie that epitomised No 122 Wing at RAF Jever.
Tony was then OC DFCS as Sqn Ldr until November 1958 when he was selected for a long tour as Equerry to HM The Queen
- ^ "Court Circular: August 20 2012". The Times. 20 August 2012. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Nikkhah, Roya (Royal Correspondent) (15 November 2020). "Royal Marines buoyed to see officer land in palace as Queen's equerry". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Court Circular, 1 October 2019
- ^ Court Circular, 1 January 2015
- ^ The Navy Directory 2019 (PDF). London: Ministry of Defence. 2020. p. 2.
- ^ Court Circular, 7 May 2006
- ^ Court Circular, 26 July 2005
- ^ Court Circular, 3 February 2005
- ^ Court Circular, 18 October 2001
- ^ Court Circular, 23 February 2001
- ^ Court Circular, 2 November 2000
- ^ Court Circular, 30 January 2000
- ^ Court Circular, various dates
- ^ Army Dress Regulations, Part 10