Viral video: Woman's photo op turns painful as king's guard horse bites her arm, watch

A visit to London's iconic King's Guard took a dramatic turn when a tourist suffered a painful bite from one of the ceremonial horses. The incident unfolded as the woman posed for a photo, getting too close to the horse, which suddenly bit her arm and pulled her towards it. The shocking moment was captured on video and shared widely on YouTube.

King’s Guard horse bites a tourist on the arm hard, and she faints.

When are we going to respect them enough to give them space??
pic.twitter.com/Exe3jKHRRf

— Sabrina Smolders(@SabrinaSmolders) July 22, 2024

In the footage, the woman is seen crying out in pain before retreating and inspecting her injuries. A nearby man attempted to treat the bite with a cotton bud, but the distress caused her to faint. She was later found sitting on the ground, recovering, as the King's Guard sought assistance from a police officer.

Tourists are warned by signs in the area that the horses "may kick or bite" and are advised against touching the reins. The King's Guard, formerly known as the Queen's Guard, includes soldiers from the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. Recognizable by their bright red tunics and bearskin hats, these soldiers are active members of the military, not just ceremonial figures.

While the guards typically do not engage with the public, they may react if someone gets too close, either by shouting or presenting their bayonets. They carry out their duties in all weather conditions, with the bearskins becoming heavier in the rain and the risk of heat stroke increasing in hot weather.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony, a major attraction for visitors, occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from August to May.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of encounters between the public and the ceremonial horses. Last year, a Blues and Royals Horse was captured on video biting a woman's ponytail, while another clip showed a horse biting a woman's jacket.

Despite such incidents, there are also heartwarming moments. Guards have been seen interacting kindly with visitors, including a memorable occasion when a guard greeted a soldier-obsessed boy at St James' Palace and another posed for a photo with a man with Down's Syndrome, bringing a carer to tears.