Prince William's royal equerry is stepping down following four years of service

He said: "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.

"I am immensely grateful for the support, collaboration and friendships formed during these last four years. It's been a remarkable journey, and I look forward to carrying the skills and insights I've gained into my next appointments."

The Lieutenant also highlighted how he had the honour of playing "a small part" in the April 2021 funeral of Prince Philip, the June 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth and the monarch's funeral three months later, as well as the May 2023 coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla - and "all the weird and wonderful in between".

He went on: "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. "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."

He is leaving his role as equerry to return to his post in the Royal Navy, where he has served for nearly 24 years, according to the Daily Mail.

Equerries are officers from one of the three branches of the Armed Forces who are chosen to assist senior royals in their respective royal duties, from organising public engagements to arranging their official schedules. Around six equerries work in the Royal Household at any given time and are appointments generally lasting about three years.

Minnie Driver has joined the growing number of Hollywood stars going fresh-faced.

'The Serpent Queen' actress, 54, showed off make-up free selfies online and opened up on Instagram about why she regularly goes "without a scrap" of cosmetics.

She captioned the pictures: "Ok, I'm pretty vain, so posting pictures without a scrap of makeup and un-touched up, are rare.

"The only reason I'm doing it now is because I've been ill, I have felt everyone of my years recently and I'm pretty astonished that my friend Keren can make me look like this: Christmas glow without the 5 mulled wines."

Minnie's fans filled the comments section of her post with praise for her "normalising" the make-up free look.

It comes days after Jamie Lee Curtis honoured Pamela Anderson for going make-up free on red carpets.

The 'Halloween' actress, who turned 66 last week, shared a barefaced picture on her social media to pay tribute to the 57-year-old former Baywatch star's continuing fresh-faced look which she has been sporting on red carpets since last year.

Jamie captioned her image: "Just out of the shower selfie. Honouring @pamelaanderson @lastshowgirl and her no make-up ownership of self.

"Sober. Strong. Steady on."

Jamie was referring to her new film 'The Last Showgirl' in which she stars alongside Pamela.

The actress added about her look: "Just noticed that it looks like I have mascara on, which is clearly a remnant of my workday yesterday. Clearly, mommy didn't wash her face very well."

Jamie was one of Pamela's cheerleaders when the former pin-up went viral for her fresh-faced look at Paris Fashion Week couture shows last year.

Pamela told last year how her decision to go fresh-faced was sparked by the passing of her make-up artist Alexis Vogel, who died in 2019 of breast cancer. She also decided to go "against the grain" by defying a trend for heavy make-up, saying the move felt "freeing, fun and a little rebellious".