Within hours, royal watchers were abuzz online.
“Who’s the guy staring at Catherine?” one person asked. Another added, “He looks like her bodyguard.” Others speculated that he might be “the Princess’s private secretary.”

The Mystery Solved: Kate’s Private Secretary

The man in question is Lieutenant Colonel Tom White, Kate Middleton’s private secretary.

Lt Col White first joined the royal household in 2020 as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Squire — notably becoming the first Royal Marines commando ever to hold the position. He remained in the role until the Queen’s passing in 2022, after which he transitioned to working with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

He was also spotted accompanying Kate at Wimbledon earlier this year. His appointment came after the departure of Kate’s former private secretary, Hannah Cockburn-Logie, in late 2022.

Within the royal household, the private secretary plays a key behind-the-scenes role similar to a chief of staff — managing diaries, overseeing engagements, preparing briefings, and ensuring that every aspect of a royal’s schedule runs seamlessly. They are also present at major public appearances, discreetly positioned nearby to assist and monitor interactions.

So while the internet may have been intrigued by the “mystery man” in the royal box, his presence was anything but mysterious. Lieutenant Colonel Tom White was simply doing his job — quietly keeping the Princess of Wales’s day running exactly as it should.