Moment when the Kingsguard horse bites and shakes a tourist's fur after she gets too close
The King's Life Guard, the mounted guard stationed outside the main entrance to Buckingham Palace, has long attracted the attention of tourists fascinated by the British Royal Family and its age-old traditions, especially the Changing of the Guard.
But a female tourist who went looking for a photo with a member of the famous Guard got much more than she bargained for, while the horse in question left no one in any doubt that it was tasked with protecting the monarch.
In a video clip, the young woman can be seen aligned with the horse's head, ready for her photo opportunity.
While a sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses can kick or bite, the woman can't resist raising her hand in an attempt to pet the animal as it tilts its head to nuzzle her.
But as she does so, the horse bites the arm of her black puffer jacket and quickly pulls on it more and more aggressively.
When the woman went to pet the horse's face, it bit the arm of her jacket. Refusing to let go, he tugged at the coat, pulling her back and forth and up and down before finally letting go.
Even as the woman tries to free herself from the horse, it remains attached to her jacket and, moving its head back and forth and up and down, pulls her back and forth with force.
While the woman showed signs of fear on her face, she seemed more shocked and bewildered by the experience than shocked.
When the horse lets go of her jacket after about five seconds of pulling, she looks noticeably relieved before giggling.
What seems to shock her most, however, is the hole in her coat that the horse bit into to reveal the stuffing.
A passerby asks: 'Is your coat completely torn now?' to which she replies with a sheepish “Yes.”
The King's Guards are posted on public duties outside Buckingham and St James's Palaces, and at Horse Guards on Whitehall.
Although their role is mainly ceremonial, they are part of the Household Division of the British Army and patrol the palaces and guard the sovereign at night.
In September 2023, another tourist got a little too close to a King's Guards horse and was shot by the soldier.
In the video, a crowd of tourists can be seen shouting for a mounted guard from the Horse Guard parade in Westminster.
The tourist is seen trying to get away from the horse after it clutched her coat, but to no avail
The woman stands next to the King's Life Guard, just before she reaches out to pet the horse, as she gets much more than she bargained for
Several nervous tourists are seen approaching the mounted pair, respecting their distance and posing for smiling photos.
Some brave souls are seen hesitantly placing their hands on the flanks of the huge horse, which the mounted guard graciously allows.
However, one tourist exceeded the limit and while trying to touch the horse, he tampered with the reins, causing the Kingsguard to shout, “Don't touch the reins!”
The tourist is clearly shaken and backs away from the horse, raising his hand apologetically, as the crowd chatters nervously.