An equerry ( /ɪˈkwɛrɪ/ or /ˈɛkwərɪ/; from French: "écurie" (stable), and related to the French word "écuyer" (squire)) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national representative. They are equivalent to Aides-de-Camp, but the term is specific to the Commonwealth of Nations.
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Senior Officers in the Australian Defence Force may be appointed as an Equerry on an ad hoc basis to the Queen of Australia, Governor General, State Governor or to a visiting foreign head of state.
Canadian equerries are most frequently appointed to serve visiting members of the Canadian Royal Family, and are drawn from the commissioned officers of the Canadian Forces. The equerry appointed for the Queen of Canada is a senior officer, typically a Major or a Lieutenant-Commander, while the equerry appointed for children of the Monarch is a junior officer, typically a Captain or Lieutenant(Navy).
Lieutenant-Commander Scott Nelson, MVO, Weapons Officer in HMCS Algonquin, Maritime Forces Pacific was the Canadian Equerry to the Queen of Canada during her visit in June and July 2010. He was appointed in April 2010 and was considered a member of the Royal Household for the duration of the visit.
Captain Jean Leroux, a helicopter pilot in the Canadian Air Force with search and rescue experience, is the equerry to the Duke of Cambridge during his visit to Canada in June and July 2011.[1]
Canadian equerries are also sometimes appointed to serve national representatives of the country. Colonel the Hon Henry Jackman of The Governor General's Horse Guards, Canada's Household Cavalry regiment, is the Equerry to Akaash Maharaj, in the latter's role as head of UNICEF Team Canada.[2]
In medieval and modern Germany, a stallmeister (literally, "stable master") or hofstallmeister ("court stable master") was one of the highest noble officials in a princely or royal court, responsible for the supervision of the manorial stables. The stable servants were subordinate to him. Out of this rank developed the office of marshal. In present parlance, stallmeister means Stable Master.
New Zealand equerries are appointed to serve the Queen of New Zealand only for the duration of a royal visit to the country, and are always drawn from the officers of the New Zealand Defence Force, typically captains, flight lieutenants, and lieutenants, RNZN.
Squadron Leader Leanne Woon of the Operational Support Squadron, part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was the New Zealand Equerry to the Queen of New Zealand during the most recent royal visit in 2002. She is the only woman to serve as an equerry to the monarch anywhere in the Commonwealth.[3]
Sam Stevenson, Prince William, 2005 visit to NZ, a captain in the New Zealand Defence Force, when he visited to follow the British Lions' rugby tour. Sam Stevenson and his wife Lisa Dillon Stevenson attended Prince Williams wedding to Kate Middleton.
British equerries are appointed only to senior members of the British Royal Family, and are drawn only from senior officers of the British Armed Forces.
There are now three equerries to the Queen of the United Kingdom, and a larger number of extra equerries – usually retired senior officers with some connection to the Royal Household. The extra equerries are rarely if ever required for duty but are in attendance on the Sovereign on a daily basis. For some years the Queen's senior equerry has also held the position of Deputy Master of the Household.
The Queen's permanent equerry is an officer of major rank or equivalent, recruited from the three services of the British Armed Forces in turn. Many previous equerries have gone on to reach higher rank.
The Queen's temporary equerry is a Captain of the Coldstream Guards, who provides part-time attendance. When not required for duty an equerry has additional regimental or staff duties. Senior members of the British Royal Family each also have one or two equerries.
The Crown Equerry is in charge of the Royal Mews Department and holds a distinct office.
Individuals who have served as Equerry to the Queen of the United Kingdom include: