Prince William’s equerry has posted an emotional farewell message on social media as he stepped down from his royal role this week.
Commander Rob Dixon has been working for Prince William and Princess Kate for four years, and has often been seen accompanying them to big royal events including the King’s Coronation last year and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
As an equerry, Dixon’s job involved being in regular close attendance with the couple at public engagements and being on hand to support them. The job position is usually held for three years by a senior member of the armed forces.
Although Dixon has reportedly been fond of the job, it was recently announced he will be going back to the Royal Navy, where he previously served for 23 years.
Before working for The Prince and Princess of Wales, he also worked as a helicopter instructor, which would have helped him bond well with the future King.
He will be replaced by Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds, who is on secondment from the Royal Air Force.
In an emotional message on LinkedIn, Dixon wrote: “I’ve had the most incredible opportunity to serve in a role that not only challenged me, but allowed me to grow, to learn, and to make meaningful contributions alongside a talented and passionate team.
“I am immensely grateful for the support, collaboration, and friendships formed during these last 4 years. It’s been a remarkable journey and I look forward to carrying the skills and insights I’ve gained into my next appointments.”
The message continued: “It’s now time to swap the top hat and tails for ‘daily working rig’ once again, and it’s the right thing to do.
“An Equerry’s role is finite, and handing over to an enthusiastic fresh set of eyes is all part of the process. The aim of any military role should be to serve, lead and support your team, strive for success, then move onwards and upwards; I’m excited to do just that.
“I will be forever grateful to everyone who played their part alongside me in ‘Team Cambridge’ and ‘Team Wales’, and also to my superb Principals. I wish you all fair winds and following seas.”
When he first started working for Prince William in 2020, Dixon’s official title was Royal Equerry to HRH the Duke of Cambridge.
After Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, his title then changed to Equerry to HRH the Prince and Princess of Wales.