A King’s Guard member had to activate an emergency alarm when his horse nearly collapsed in the intense heat. The dedicated officer showed concern for his horse, which repeatedly lowered its head and stumbled on Monday. Onlookers witnessed the Guard swiftly triggering the alarm as London experienced scorching temperatures of 30 degrees.
Video footage captured by a bystander depicted the guardsman, clad in a vivid scarlet wool tunic and dark trousers, waiting briefly with his horse for another service member to take over the animal’s post at Whitehall. Subsequently, a soldier emerged to assist after a tourist took a quick photo with the horse. Following the alarm check, the soldier guided the horse and rider away from their position outside the Household Cavalry Museum to a shaded area for safety.
As the horse’s legs seemed unsteady in the heat, it disappeared behind the gates. The widely viewed footage garnered over 200,000 views, prompting one viewer to comment, “This shouldn’t be happening.” Another observer remarked, “Traditional or not, common sense prevails – it’s too hot for both horse and human.” This incident occurred shortly after a previous occurrence where another King’s Guard horse exhibited erratic behavior during the late May heatwave, which set record temperatures in the UK at that time.
During the May bank holiday weekend, tourists had to move aside as a horse became agitated in the scorching weather. A video captured the moment the animal began circling outside Horse Guards Parade in central London, alarming the crowd. In a departure from the usual protocol, another guard emerged from the Horse Guards Building to calm the horse down, soothing and settling it before leading it away from the heat. Later in June, escalating temperatures affected the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, resulting in their cancellation for several days.
The ceremonies, a daily spectacle outside royal residences, feature soldiers in distinctive bearskin hats and red tunics marching to the accompaniment of a military band, with horses playing a significant role. The Army In London, responsible for organizing the ceremonies, emphasized the cancellation was necessary to safeguard soldiers, horses, and spectators. They expressed regret for any disappointment caused, underscoring the importance of following Met Office advice to stay safe in the heat.
The Household Troops, who have safeguarded the Sovereign since 1660 and patrolled outside Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837, continue their duties amid challenging weather conditions.
