Tourist ‘headbutted’ by King’s Guard horse

A video has gone viral in 24 hours showing a Kings Guard horse “headbutting” a woman, causing her to fall flat on her face.

Tourists are told countless times not to stand too close to a King’s Guard horse outside Buckingham Palace – there’s also signs saying to ‘beware’ – yet one woman must have missed the warnings.

Video footage shows the moment a woman went flying across the pavement after she got too close to a guard horse while taking a photo.

The clip, shared to X, has been viewed more than 8 million times in just 24 hours.

The original clip is understood to have been taken around October last year but has since gone viral and after it was uploaded to the platform on Tuesday.

The woman can be seen posing in front of the King’s Guard horse at Buckingham Palace before the horse moves his head forward slightly to nudge the woman, causing her to trip and fall face down onto the ground.

“Tourist gets headbutted and thrown to the floor after standing next to a Kings Guard horsemen,” the X post read.

The woman was taking a photo in front of the horse before it nudged her to move out of its way. Picture: X/OliLondonTV

“Tourists are warned not to get close to the horses or guards with a nearby sign reading ‘Beware. Horse may kick or bite. Don’t touch the reigns. Thank you’.”

Fellow tourists could be seen rushing over to help the woman off the ground. She could be seen pausing on her knees before three men help her back on to her feet.

It caused her to fall onto the pavement, face down. Picture: X/OliLondonTV

Many rushed to her aid where she remained on her knees for a moment, looking dazed. Picture: X/OliLondonTV

She stood still for a while, grabbing the side of her face as if in pain from the incident.

It’s not the first time something like this as happened despite the King’s Guard themselves telling tourists to move away and not touch the horses as they will react.

Three men helped her up. She was seen holding the side of her face. Picture: X/OliLondonTV

While posing for a photo outside the Household Cavalry Museum at the Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace in April last year, one woman got the fright of her life when the horse behind her grabbed her ponytail in its mouth.

She was pulled backwards by the force before the horse let go and she was able to scramble away.

The clip then cuts to another woman, again with her back to the same horse, and again the victim of the animal lashing out.

Viewers of the three incidents, including the woman was “headbutted”, were quick to point out the huge sign on the wall that reads: “BEWARE – Horses may kick or bite! Thank you”.

The King’s Guard, formerly known as the Queen’s Guard, have long been a subject of intrigue and fascination for tourists worldwide, who visit Buckingham Palace just to witness them first-hand, The Sun reports.

They consist of soldiers from The Grenadier Guards, The Coldstream Guards, The Scots Guards, The Irish Guards and The Welsh Guards.

Commonly known for wearing bright red tunics and bearskins, their uniform is one of the most recognisable symbols of London.

But the troupe are not just ceremonial, they are all actual soldiers.

The King’s Guard are generally not allowed to interact with the public, but may shout if they get too close or present their bayonets if they become aggressive.

Guards must continue regardless of the weather, with rain causing their bearskins to become significantly heavier and hot weather resulting in a higher risk of heat stroke.

– with The Sun