NEED TO KNOW

Queen Camilla’s equerry Major Oliver “Ollie” Plunket has relinquished his royal role

The Queen announced the news in a speech at the RIFLES Awards Dinner on Nov. 27

Plunket, 31, had worked for Queen Camilla since 2022

Queen Camilla‘s right-hand man has stepped down from his royal role.

On Nov. 30, an entry in The Court Circular revealed that Major Oliver “Ollie” Plunket met with Queen Camilla and King Charles at Sandringham to resign as equerry to the Queen.

“Major Oliver Plunket was received by The King and Queen this morning upon relinquishing his appointment as Equerry to Her Majesty when His Majesty invested him with the Insignia of a Member of the Royal Victorian Order,” the statement said, confirming the transition and Plunket’s prestigious new position in the Royal Victorian Order.

Equerries are officers from the British Armed Forces selected to assist senior royals with their official duties during appointments that typically last about three years. According to Forces News, Plunket, 31, had worked for Queen Camilla since November 2022 and was her first equerry.

Pool/Getty Queen Camilla and Major Ollie Plunket during a visit to the Pauline Chapel at Vatican City, Vatican on Oct. 23, 2025.

Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla and Major Ollie Plunket during a visit to the Pauline Chapel at Vatican City, Vatican on Oct. 23, 2025.

He was by her side for many milestones since, recently accompanying the King and Queen to the Vatican in October for a historic meeting with Pope Leo XIV and laying the Queen’s wreath at Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, a solemn honor during the royal family’s appearance at the service in November.

Plunket previously caught the internet’s attention and charmed hearts in December 2023, when he used his sword to hang ornaments on a Christmas tree during a holiday celebration at Clarence House.

The equerry impressed guests at the festive decorating party, an annual tradition in which Queen Camilla welcomes children supported by the Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity to help decorate the evergreen at her London home with King Charles.

Chris Jackson/Getty  Major Ollie Plunket decorates a Christmas tree at Clarence House on Dec. 12, 2024.

Chris Jackson/Getty

Major Ollie Plunket decorates a Christmas tree at Clarence House on Dec. 12, 2024.

Plunket is an officer of The Rifles, the largest infantry regiment of the British Army and a unit which Queen Camilla is Colonel-in-Chief of.

On Nov. 27, she announced that he was leaving his royal role during a speech at the biennial RIFLES Awards Dinner at the City of London Guildhall.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Major Ollie Plunket, who has been my staunch equerry for the past three years,” Queen Camilla said in a speech before dinner, the Daily Mail reported.

“He has excelled in everything he has done for me,” she added.

Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty Queen Camilla, Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles and Royal Colonel 4th Battalion The Ranger Regiment, makes a speech at the Biennial RIFLES Awards dinner on Nov. 27, 2025 in London.

Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/Getty

Queen Camilla, Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles and Royal Colonel 4th Battalion The Ranger Regiment, makes a speech at the Biennial RIFLES Awards dinner on Nov. 27, 2025 in London.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

As Plunket moves on, 29-year-old Major Rob Treasure of The Rifles has reportedly been selected as his successor and will be the new equerry to the Queen.

Read the original article on People