A woman was bitten by a horse belonging to a member of the King’s Guard after getting too close while posing for a photo.
The footage, shot recently and uploaded to YouTube this week, shows the woman walking up to the horse and placing her hand on it which the horse clearly doesn’t like because it turns around and bites her. The woman lets out an audible shriek before reeling away.
Ironically, she was standing right next to a sign that reads: “Beware! Horses may kick or bite.”
A very similar video posted a couple of weeks ago shows an American tourist also being bitten by a royal horse but this time the it held on for a few seconds as the tourist cried out in pain.
“Ow, ow, ow, help me, he’s got my arm,” as the guards looked on nonplussed.
It is far from the first incident involving photo-seeking tourists and the King’s Guard. A woman got too close to one of the soldiers who turned around and yelled at her as she was posing for a photo.
And who can forget this classic video of a hapless photographer being bashed around by the Queen’s Guard (as they were formerly known) after he stood in their marching path.
The King’s Guard is responsible for protecting the British monarchy and the Crown Jewels, and their duties include standing still for extended periods of time among tourists.
Despite their seemingly stoic demeanor, the guards are not to be taken lightly. They are trained to respond quickly and forcefully to any perceived threat.
The above incidents serve as a reminder to visitors that the guards should be respected and not treated as tourist attractions.
“Tourists just don’t get it,” writes one social media commentator. “They are the King’s Guard. They will kill you if they have to.”
While the guards may seem like part of the British tourist experience, they are professionals who are trained to protect King Charles III and his family.
“We want to ensure all those who visit the Horse Guards have an enjoyable time,” says a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence.
“This area is particularly busy with tourists and on occasions, the soldiers undertaking Guard duty need to shout loudly to alert members of the public if they get too close. This is for the safety of those on duty and the public.”