Who is King Charles’ equerry and why did he go viral?

While many are mourning Queen Elizabeth II, the attention of TikTok users has been captured by King Charles’ new equerry: Major Johnny Thompson.

Major Thompson — dubbed “Major Eye Candy” by social media — was formerly Queen Elizabeth’s senior bodyguard and is now serving as King Charles III’s equerry.

The officer of the royal household is reportedly serving some pretty attractive looks, too, judging by views on the platform. A video of Major Thompson has been viewed more than 7.6 million times in just four days on TikTok.

Thompson became the talk of TikTok after he was spotted walking behind Queen Elizabeth’s casket in the royal procession on Wednesday when she was transferred from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the four-day lying in state ahead of her funeral Monday.

He was also spotted escorting Prime Minister Liz Truss to meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Major Thompson currently serves with the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and his role as an equerry — which is an officer of the British royal household who attends or assists members of the royal family — requires him to attend public events. His position also requires close contact with the monarch, and it seems the general public has no issue with the extra Thompson time.

Thompson — who has reportedly worked with Charles since 2020 — is responsible for the “planning and execution” of the king’s daily programs. Equerries are chosen from senior officers of the British Army.

Unfortunately for anyone who was hoping to become royal-adjacent, Major Thompson has been happily married for 13 years and shares a 4-year-old son with his marketing executive wife, according to Elle.

But it’s not his royal duties that have a slew of followers interested in his whereabouts. The equerry has been declared a royal hottie by TikTok, and Twitter users are enamored with his good looks and apparent charm.

After the TikTok account UK Travel posted a clip of the “handsome man in the green kilt” four days ago when he was spotted in the procession, the viral clip had social media searching en masse.

“After googling ‘man in green kilt walking behind queen’s coffin’, here I am! And I’m glad to be here,” one woman declared on TikTok.

“Offffft. Major Johnny Thompson,” a Twitter user wrote, along with several heart-eyed emojis. “What a fine specimen of a man.”

“I’m so glad we’ve found the new 007,” quipped another.

“You can see why Margaret fell for an equerry,” someone else observed on Twitter. “All these handsome men like [Prince William’s equerry] Rob Dixon and Major Johnny Thompson hanging around in uniform!”

“I think I’ve just become a royalist,” laughed another. “Does anyone know if he’s single? asking for myself.”