For years the mockery of the Queen’s Guards have been made on television, and in person. One tourist learned they are not prone to dismissal of excessive teasing. A video surfaced where tourists could be heard snickering in the background as their disrespectful friend marches alongside the guard. As the guard marches, and turns to continue, the tourist places his hand on the guard’s shoulder. A move indicative of a threat.
The Queen’s Guard spins, raises his bayonet-tipped rifle, and aims it at the tourist shouting, “Step back from the Queen’s Guard!” The man runs away as his friends are heard laughing at the response.
The Guard is seen at the London and Windsor Palaces and the Holyroodhouse. The Ministry of Defense did not confirm where the incident of the bad tourist occurred. They did advise their soldier did have an “appropriate” reaction to the behavior of the visitor, and no disciplinary actions would follow.
The guard is for the protection of the Queen, position and himself. Tourists seem to forget this, and since the incident of the video - the Ministry has installed a rope to avoid visitors from approaching the guard.
Just earlier this month another tourist found out the hard way not to come near the path of the Queen’s Guard. The guards were marching as people continued to mill around, even residents could be heard telling people to step from the path of the marching guards. One man did not heed the warning, and the guards do not pause or slow their path. The tourist found himself tangled in the march.
The Queen’s Guard are not decoration assets, they are fully operational and armed to protect the palace, the grounds, the Queen and refute any disrespectful actions from tourists.