Queen Elizabeth has selected the first ever black man to be equerry.

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth

The 91-year-old monarch has appointed Ghanaian-born Major Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah to the role - which involves generally assisting Elizabeth in public duties - and he is delighted to have fulfilled a childhood dream.

Speaking about watching the Trooping the Colour on TV as a youngster, he told the Sunday Times newspaper: "I would have never imagined that one day I'd command the regiment which I'd fallen in love with.

"From what I've seen in the UK, our cultures really do mix and if I'm not a good example of that I really don't know what is."

Twumasi-Ankrah became the first black British Army officer to be commissioned into the Household Cavalry and was also an escort commander at Prince William and Duchess Catherine's wedding in 2011.

He is expected to replace Sam Fletcher as equerry later this year.

The queen is said to have personally picked out Twumasi-Ankrah from a group of candidates.

The role lasts for three years and is an officer selected from one of the armed services.

As well as assisting the queen in public duties, the equerry also has a big job at state ceremonies, such as the State Opening of Parliament, as they are tasked with looking after the carriages and coaches.

This appointment comes after the queen's husband, Prince Philip, 96, announced in May he will step down from official duties this autumn.

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