Adorable moment King’s Guard horse leans into the frame as a blind tourist poses for photo – and is rewarded with a salute
A King’s Guard horse and a blind man have melted hearts after they posed for a photo together.
A visually impaired tourist, thought to be from the US, travelled to Horse Guards Parade in central London where he politely asked the King’s Guard and his horse whether he could take a picture with them.
When the soldier agreed, the man then thanked them both and asked: ‘Can somebody help me please?’
A woman then stepped in to take the sweet snap of him and the guards, as the traveller then slowly backed up towards the wall while taking off his dark-tinted glasses.
The man asked: ‘May I step on the white line, sir?’ He then beamed as he posed with the pair – before the adorable horse warmly leaned towards the man to get into the frame.
After thanking the woman who took the snap, the blind man saluted the soldier and his well-behaved partner.
‘Thank you sir, thank you for your service,’ he said, before placing his phone back into his pocket and carefully navigating himself out of the way.
The globetrotter was then seen zooming into the image and holding the phone right up to his eyes, seemingly to review the picture.
A visually impaired tourist, thought to be from the US, travelled to Horse Guards Parade in central London where he politely asked the King’s Guard and his horse whether he could take a picture with them
Cavalry Blacks, which are distinctive for their height and black hair, are typically used by the Life Guards, the Blues and Royals.
According to The Horse Trust, this specific breed ‘are known for their striking appearance and calm temperament’.
The charity added: ‘Their presence symbolises the elegance and discipline of the British cavalry.’
The heartwarming clip was shared by @royalguards_england21 on TikTok and has since racked up over one million views.
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the clip, with many commenting on how well-mannered the man was towards the guard and his horse.
One wrote: ‘God bless his soul,’ while another penned: ‘And that’s how you respect the guards!!!’
A third said: ‘If only everyone was as well mannered as this [man], the world would be a much better place. Lovely to see.’
A fourth commented: ‘He can come back anytime. Saluting and thanking him. What a beautiful man.’
After thanking the woman who took the snap, the blind man saluted the soldier and his well-behaved horse.
A fifth added: ‘Nice to see our soldiers being respected and not laughed at.
Based outside Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace, the King’s Guard is made up of highly-trained soldiers.
The King’s Life Guard are mounted soldiers based at the official main entrance to both St James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace.
Signs are placed around areas where the Guards are positioned, warning the public that the horses may bite or kick if they get too close.
The soldiers are on duty ‘at their post’ for two hours and come to attention every 10 minutes.
They are subject to strict rules including not being permitted to eat, sleep, smoke, sit, or lie down during their tour.
Smiling is also strictly forbidden and they must maintain a stoic demeanour.
Many guided walking tours involve a visit to the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace or St. James’s Palace which typically happens once a day, usually at 10.45am and lasts for about 45 minutes.
