Prince William. Phil Noble – Pool/Getty Images
Prince William’s former staffer, Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon, shared a heartfelt goodbye to the royal family.
“It’s time to move on,” Dixon, 42, shared in a recent LinkedIn post. “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.”
Dixon was appointed as William’s equerry in 2020. Two years later, he became Princess Kate Middleton’s equerry as well and stood by the Prince and Princess of Wales’ side over the past four years. (An equerry is an armed service officer who works for members of the British royal family in an assistant capacity. Dixon, for example, was officially in charge of The Household of THR The Prince and Princess of Wales.)
“It’s been a remarkable journey and I look forward to carrying the skills and insights I’ve gained into my next appointments,” Dixon’s goodbye message continued. He went on to detail “all the weird and wonderful” moments he was a part of with the royal family, including the Platinum Jubilee the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and more.
“There were engagements when our whole Household was involved, every single person, and there were times when I was quite rightly standing alone, calling the shots and backing the shots I’d taken,” he added. “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.”
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Dixon noted that he’s “excited” to “move onwards and upwards” into a new role within the Royal Navy as Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds takes over as William’s equerry going forward.
“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,” Dixon concluded. “I wish you all fair winds and following seas.”
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Prior to Dixon’s news, royal biographer Robert Hardman wrote in his new book, New King, New Court, that the Prince and Princess of Wales aim to limit the staff members in their Windsor home.
“The couple did not seek to boost the staff numbers at Adelaide Cottage, not least because there would be little room to do so,” Hardman wrote, noting that the “Kensington Palace team does include a ‘yeoman’, a multi-tasking attendant who looks after everything from luggage to uniforms, but there is no ‘gentleman’s gentleman’ on the staff.”
He also explained that there is “certainly no butler” helping out William and Kate. “It’s very much [just] them at home with the kids.”