Orlando Oxford

A duke who built a spy agency to keep his son from the horrors of war.

Orlando Oxford is the central protagonist of The King's Man (2021), portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. As a British aristocrat and Duke of Oxford, he establishes Kingsman, a secret spy organization, during the early 20th century to combat a shadow network escalating political violence across the world. Following the death of his wife, Emily, in a sniper attack at a South African concentration camp near the end of the Second Boer War in 1902, Orlando vows never to let their son, Conrad, see war again. This promise drives his actions throughout the film as he navigates the outbreak of World War I and the machinations of 'The Flock'.

Quick Facts

First appearance: The King's Man (2021)
Base of operations: The Kingsman Tailor Shop

Lore & Background

Orlando's journey begins in 1902 when Emily dies, leaving him with a solemn promise regarding their son Conrad. Twelve years later, Orlando has formed a private spy network with his servants, Shola and Polly Wilkins, serving the world's most powerful dignitaries. When Conrad insists on joining the British Army, Orlando forbids it, even persuading Secretary of State Lord Kitchener to deny the request. The story turns in Sarajevo, where Conrad saves Archduke Franz Ferdinand from a bomb thrown by Gavrilo Princip; Princip later meets the Archduke's party again by chance and fatally shoots him and his wife Sophie, which starts World War I.

Reader's Guide

In the aftermath of World War I, Orlando purchases the Kingsman Tailor Shop as a front for his organization. He forms the original Kingsman agency with Shola, Polly, King George V, Archie and the US Ambassador to the UK. Each member is assigned a codename from the King Arthur legend to honor Conrad. The mid-credit scene reveals that Erik Jan Hanussen assumes command of Shepherd's organization and introduces Lenin to Adolf Hitler, setting the stage for future conflicts.