Moment King's Guard allows elderly military veteran to touch horse

Heart-warming moment King’s Guard breaks protocol to allow elderly military veteran to touch his horse

• The woman and her husband were posing for a photo at Horse Guards Parade
• Member of King’s Life Guard moved closer and let woman touch his horse 
• READ MORE: King’s Guard lets boy with Down’s syndrome have a photo with him

The King’s Guard perform their ceremonial duties outside royal palaces famously astutely and are not afraid to bark orders. 

They have become known in recent years for their furious commands for tourists to get out of the way or not get too close. 

But an elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King’s Life Guard last Friday, when the soldier moved closer to her as she posed for a photo with her husband at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. 

A video posted on social media shows the couple – both of whom were proudly displaying their medals – moving as close as they dare to the mounted soldier.

But, having apparently realised they have both served their country, the soldier, who is wearing his customary plumed helmet and armour, quickly urges his horse closer to them before allowing the woman to pat his steed’s nose.

Beaming, the couple then move away and the soldier directs his horse back into position. 

An elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King’s Life Guard last Friday, when the soldier moved closer to her and allowed the woman to pat his horse’s nose

The video was posted on Twitter yesterday and subsequently shared nearly 2,000 times. 

CLICK TO READ MORE: King’s Guard melts hearts by making a rare break in protocol so boy with Down’s syndrome can have a photo taken with him 

The woman who posted the video via her account @manc_lass3 said: ‘What a beautiful and fitting gesture.’

She added: ‘God bless all in service, past and present, without their sacrifice we would be truly nothing today.’ 

Reacting, another user said: ‘Well done to that young man, he must have made the lady’s day.’

The touching scene comes a few days after a member of the Life Guard moved closer to a boy with Down’s Syndrome outside Horse Guards Parade. 

The boy was with his carer, who warned him not to get too close as they posed for a photo.

The King’s Guard unexpectedly moved next to them both, leaving carer Mike van Erp – better known by his YouTube name CyclingMikey – to declare: ‘What a nice man, what a cool thing to do.’

However, this year has also seen King’s Guard troops also boost their reputation for snapping at tourists who step beyond acceptable boundaries.

Having apparently realised the woman and her husband have both served their country, the soldier quickly urges his horse closer to them before allowing the woman to touch the animal

In May, a woman was left furious after being ‘pushed’ out of the way by a member of the Life Guard after she moved into his path, having earlier been asked to get out of the way.

He shouted ‘make way’ and used his arm to move the woman out of his path, which left her furious.

The previous month, a member of the King’s Guard had given a tourist a scare by shouting in her face when she tried to take a selfie with him.

The soldier stamped his foot, turned towards her and shouted: ‘Do not touch the King’s Life Guard!’, all while holding a sword. 

The King’s Guard are posted outside at Horse Guards Parade from 10am to 4pm each day. 

What is the King’s Guard and what do they do?  

The King’s Guard is the name given to the group of soldiers responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace.

Traditionally, guards stand still while on sentry duty, which lasts for two hours, before they then have a four-hour break.

Every 10 minutes, they come to attention, slopes arms and do a march of 15 paces across the area of the post.

They must work regardless of the weather, and must follow strict rules such as not grinning or laughing, which can result in a £200 fine.

Guards are not generally allowed to talk to the general public, but in certain circumstances, such as when people obstruct them, they can shout a warning to get them to move.

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