Who are Prince William and Kate Middleton’s new aides? Lieutenant Colonel Tom White looks like Roger Federer and was Queen Elizabeth’s equerry, while Ian Patrick is a former diplomat

Mar 27 , 2024

Lieutenant Colonel Tom White (left) and Ian Patrick (right) are now key to helping Prince William and Kate Middleton through what’s shaping up to be a tough year. Photos: @william_catherine82/Instagram, Getty Images, @CarmenInUSA/X

It’s not been an easy few months for the British royal family, who have been in the spotlight since the beginning of the year – first due to King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, then because of Kate Middleton’s absence from royal duties and the fact that a family photo she shared was found to have been altered.

Kate Middleton has recently revealed that she’s undergoing treatment for cancer. Photo: Getty Images/Indigo

After weeks of frenzied online speculation and conspiracy theories about her whereabouts, the future queen of England announced she had been diagnosed with cancer and is in the early stages of her treatment, in a video shared with the world’s media on March 22.

Kate Middleton and Prince William usually have a packed schedule of social engagements. Photo: @princeandprincessofwales/Instagram

The news has come as a shock to the world, with many offering messages of concern and support. But who is supporting William and Kate behind the scenes?

According to US media, William and Kate hired two new aides just before Kate’s diagnosis, with a palace insider calling them “great guys”. Here’s what we know about them so far:

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Who is Ian Patrick, Prince William’s new aide?

Ian Patrick is a former diplomat who’s been appointed as Prince William’s new private secretary. Photo: @CarmenInUSA/Twitter

According to US media, William’s new private secretary, Ian Patrick, will be considered his most important staffer and adviser going forward. Per The Guardian, Patrick is a former British diplomat and business consultant. It’s believed William’s new aide was hired around February and also previously worked for British politician Lord Ashdown between 2006 and 2007.

According to Patrick’s LinkedIn, he was also a partner at global advisory firm Macro Advisory Partners from December 2014 until he took the job with Prince William.

Town & Country reported that the prince stepped out for the first time with his new aide earlier this month when he visited the Kia Oval Cricket Ground in London to highlight his ongoing support for the Earthshot Prize.

Who is Lieutenant Colonel Tom White, Kate Middleton’s new aide?

Lieutenant Colonel Tom White (left) has been compared to tennis star Roger Federer. Photos: @william_catherine82; rogerfederer/Instagram

After over a year of having no private secretary, People confirmed that Kate had hired Lieutenant Colonel Tom White to fill the position at the end of February.

Former royal marine Thomas White was Queen Elizabeth’s equerry right up until her death, and British media has likened the 36-year-old to tennis star Roger Federer, even prompting calls for Middleton to create a hot equerries calendar for charity, per Marca.

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Britain’s Kate Middleton will step back from many royal duties as she undergoes preventive chemotherapy. Photo: AP

According to Tatler, White is an Afghanistan war veteran who once averted a bomb plot at a school in the country’s Helmand province and was quoted saying at the time: “It turns your stomach to think what could have happened if we hadn’t found the bombs. These people knew they could have blown a lot of kids sky high – and they didn’t care.”

What will William and Kate’s new aides do?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had a tough time of late. Photo: Getty

According to various sources, the two new aides will play a key role in managing official engagements and advising the couple on their royal duties. Given Kate’s illness, they are likely to be an even more crucial part of the royal team in the coming months, helping the already stretched royal family to plan their itineraries and get through their scheduled events.

Last year, King Charles’ equerry Major Johnny Thompson caused a stir online for his handsome good looks, indicating that many are becoming just as obsessed those around the royals as the royals themselves.

Kate Middleton

After weeks of speculation around the whereabouts of Kate Middleton, the future queen of England has opened up about her current health struggles, admitting that she’s been diagnosed with cancer
William and Kate hired two new aides just before the princess of Wales’ diagnosis, with a palace insider describing them as ‘great guys’ – here’s what we know about them so far