Who is Richard Aylard? Commander Richard J Aylard, CVO is a designated member of the royal security. At nearly 70 years of age, his illustrious career has seen him as a British Royal Navy officer and as Prince Charles's head of private security for six years from 1991 to 1996. For the next six years, from 1996 to 2002, Aylard worked as a consultant on environmental issues and public affairs at Burson-Marsteller. The year 2002 saw him move on to Thames Water as Corporate Responsibility Director, and soon he became their External Affairs and Sustainability Director. He is now a Director and Special Advisor to the Chief Executive of Thames Water. He is also a Senior Associate of the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, and an Ambassador for WWF-UK, and an Associate of Forum for the Future.