The terrifying moment a King’s Guard horse bites a tourist after she touches the animal has been captured on video.
The footage posted to X, formerly Twitter, shows a woman putting her hand on the horse’s shoulder while posing for a photo. The animal reacts by swinging its head towards her saree and biting her.
She stumbles backwards in bewilderment and reaches for the wall behind her to prevent a fall.
Kings Guard Horse BITES tourist after she touched him for a photo.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 21, 2024
It is strictly forbidden for tourists to touch a Kings Guard horse or get too close.
pic.twitter.com/4SJcjscLNG
A member of the Household Cavalry remains motionless on the horse next to a sign warning visitors: 'Beware! Horses may kick or bite.'
The King’s soldiers must not let anything distract them from their duties - with toilet breaks banned during two hour shifts.
King’s Guard horses are popular among tourists, who are permitted to take photos besides them. Armed officers stationed close by can intervene where appropriate or when individuals are behaving disrespectfully.
The clip is the most recent in a series of incidents this year involving the guard horses biting tourists.
Soldiers stationed at Buckingham Palace have occasionally lashed out at individuals, including at one in 2022, for touching the animal’s reins.
Earlier this year, a soldier was “heckled” by a group of tourists, leading an armed Met Police officer to intervene, stressing that the guard was “protecting” the area and should not be derided as an “object of ridicule”.
Home Secretary James Cleverly had backed the intervention.
