This is the shocking moment a King’s Guard horse bites a tourist after she touches the animal while posing for a photo.
The video, which has gone viral on social media with more than 855,000 views, shows the woman putting her hand on the horse’s neck while posing for a photograph.
The horse then turns its head towards the woman before grabbing her sari.
She stumbles back in shock after being bitten and almost falls, but stabilizes herself by putting her hands on the stone wall.
The animal, ridden by a member of the Royal Cavalry, was mounted next to a sign warning visitors: ‘Beware! Horses can kick or bite.
The tourist can be seen putting her hand on the horse’s neck as she poses for a photo.
The horse turns its head before grabbing the woman’s sari.
The tourist stumbled back and nearly fell, but grabbed the wall for support.
Although many consider them tourist attractions, the King’s Guard is made up of elite soldiers who are tasked with protecting the life and property of the monarch.
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.
Soldiers must not allow anything to distract them from their duties (bathroom breaks are prohibited during two-hour shifts) and will cut through anyone who gets in their way.
While tourists can take photos of them, armed officers stationed near them will intervene if they get too close or behave disrespectfully.
A sign next to the guard warns spectators that the horses may kick or bite, telling them not to touch the reins.
This is the latest in a series of incidents in which tourists have been bitten by the horse of a guard who was on duty.
Earlier this year, a tourist who went looking for a photo with one of the famous guards got much more than she bargained for when he bit her jacket and wouldn’t let go.
In a video clip, the young woman is seen positioned in line with the horse’s head, ready for her photo opportunity.
While a sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses may kick or bite, the woman cannot resist raising her hand in an attempt to pet the animal when it bends its head to pet her.
However, as he does so, the horse bites the arm of his black padded jacket and soon pulls on him in an increasingly aggressive manner.
Even when the woman tries to move away from the horse, it remains attached to her jacket and, moving its head from side to side and up and down, pulls it back and forth vigorously.
Although the woman showed signs of fear on her face, she seemed more surprised and bewildered by the experience than shocked.
In one incident, when a woman went to pet the horse’s face, it bit the arm of her jacket. Refusing to let go, she tugged at the jacket and pushed it back and forth, up and down before finally releasing it.
The tourist is seen trying to get away from the horse after it squeezed her jacket, but to no avail.
When the horse lets go of her jacket after about five seconds of pulling, she looks noticeably relieved before starting to laugh.
However, what seems to surprise her most is the hole in her jacket where the horse bit to reveal the stuffing.
A passerby asks: “Do you have your coat destroyed yet?” to which she responds with a shy “Yes.”
In September 2023, another tourist got too close to a King’s Guard horse and was shot by the soldier.
In the video, a crowd of tourists can be seen clamoring around a mounted guard at the Horse Guards parade, Westminster.
In another video a man was seen touching the reins of one of the horses.
This caused the King’s Guard to shout, “Don’t touch the reins!”
Several nervous tourists are seen approaching the mounted couple, respecting their distance and posing for smiling photographs.
Some brave souls are seen placing tentative hands on the flanks of the enormous horse, which the mounted guard graciously allows.
However, one tourist overstepped the limit and, in the process of trying to touch the horse, tampered with the reins, causing the King’s Guard to bellow, “Don’t touch the reins!”
Clearly in shock, the tourist walks away from the horse, raising a hand in apology as he does so while the crowd chatters nervously.