The father of Kate Middleton’s new stable master has admitted his son bears a striking resemblance to tennis superstar Roger Federer.
Royal fans were quick to notice how much Lt. Col. Tom White resembles the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, his father Garry said friends first noticed the resemblance when Federer first became world number one in 2004.
“He looks like Roger Federer – all our friends comment on it,” Garry said outside his home in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Quite a few people have said that many times.’
Pictured: Lt. Col. Tom White with his wife Stephanie
Lieutenant Colonel Tom White has become the new equerry of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales
Friends first noticed the similarity between Colonel White and Federer when the latter first became world number one in 2004.
The dashing former Royal Marine Commando, who was this week appointed the new Private Secretary to the Princess of Wales, is also a talented tennis player – but not quite up to the level of his doppelgänger.
Garry, 66, a former government official, said: ‘He has played tennis, but not at the level of Roger Federer’ before adding: ‘I wish he could play like him.’
Garry said his son was a keen sportsman and while he did not talk about his new royal role, he could not hide his pride in his military career.
“At the end of the day he is a Royal Marine Commando and we are very proud of what he has achieved,” he said. He had quite humble beginnings.”
White and his 37-year-old wife Stephanie’s love of sports is evident in photos on their social media. One photo shows the happy couple smiling as they enjoy a snowboarding holiday in Vermont in the US.
Pictured: Lt. Col. Tom White’s parents, Gary, 66, and Kay, 67
Pictured: Lt. Col. Tom White in uniform, pictured with his wife Stephanie
Other photos are from their wedding day ten years ago, with a cheerful photo of the couple walking arm in arm.
Another shows his comrades from his regiment forming a guard of honor with their ceremonial swords as the smiling couple leaves the church.
In another photo, Stephanie posed with half a dozen of his regiments supporting her in their arms as she lay horizontally outside the church for a fun photo.
The couple, who now live in London, own a £635,000 house in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire and have a young daughter.
They had previously lived in Exeter, near White’s regiment, 42 Commando, and close to his parents in Portsmouth.
Royal fans were quick to comment on the similarity in appearance between White and the 42-year-old Federer when his appointment was made public.
The Swiss star has built a close friendship with the princess, an avid tennis player and fans, over the years.
Pictured: Stephanie posed with six of White’s regiments supporting her in their arms as she lay horizontally outside the church
Lt. Col. Tom White and his wife Stephanie on their wedding day ten years ago
The pair played on court together last year as part of a film celebrating the role of the ball boys and girls in the tennis championship.
Kate even served up the winning shot in a friendly doubles match, prompting the eight-time Wimbledon champion to shout ‘Amazing’.
Federer, who retired from competitive tennis in 2022, also gave Prince George a few lessons.
Once Kate recovers from her surgery and resumes her royal duties, it will likely be Federer, and his doppelgänger will no doubt come face to face at Wimbledon this summer.
The resemblance has already been noticed on social media, with one user on
Pictured: Gary and Kay White on vacation
Another wrote: ‘He’s so handsome.’
Lt. Col. White will likely fit seamlessly into his new role as Kate’s right-hand man.
He is no stranger to royal duties since joining Buckingham Palace in 2020.
While he was equerry to the late Queen, he was seen with her at many events and welcomed Boris Johnson to Balmoral when he stepped down as Prime Minister to pass the role to Liz Truss.
His mother Kay, 67, told MailOnline that her son marched past the Queen’s coffin during her funeral.
“He was with the queen until the end,” she said.
Her son became the frontrunner for the coveted role of equerry to the princess when he was invited to join her for an upcoming engagement last November.
Pictured: Gary and Kay White
In addition to a dashing appearance, White is also a decorated war hero.
He helped avert a tragedy in Helmand province in 2009 as a member of 42 Commando, after the Taliban rigged an explosive booby trap in a school.
Wires for the device, which would be activated by a pressure plate that would go off if the padlocked schoolroom door were broken open by his troops, were spotted by the elite forces.
When he was 22, Lieutenant White, the commander of 7 Troop, said afterwards: ‘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 into the air – and they didn’t care.
‘I have a rather low opinion of someone who would bomb a school. They don’t value young life at all.’
In his new role, Lieutenant Colonel White has been appointed Director of the Prince and Princess of Wales Royal Foundation.
The foundation is the primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle for the royal couple focusing on conservation and mental health.