Royal guard video kicking child in the way

[DickMabutt73962]

I wasn't born and raised in the UK and am not into the culture of 'tradition' but I don't understand the majority of reactions to this video blaming the parent and saying of the guards 'it's their job'.

Can anyone more enlightened explain to me why this was necessary? As far as I can see the guard is marching, not saving London from attack. I don't see why a side-step wouldn't work. And if this is a register thing then maybe future control of how close members of the public are able to get in their path

www.indy100.com/viral/queen-royal-guard-trampled-kid-tiktok-video-b1983965

Regular* thing, not register

I saw this earlier and wondered the same. I then got into a you tube rabbit hole and saw lots of incidents that were very similar. Pushing people out of the way etc.

It really shocked me

Here's a direct link to the TikTok video vm.tiktok.com/ZM8K1UK96/

The soldier doesn’t kick the child out of his way. The child stands in his way and is knocked over. The fact that the child was in their way to be knocked over is the fault of the parents.

The Queens Guard aren’t a tourist attraction. They’re professional soldiers who are doing their duty.

They didn't kick him, they collided with him as he was in the way and then stepped over him in order to avoid stepping on him.

They can't get distracted by people trying to block their paths or get them to stop, they're armed soldiers on duty, not decorative baubles.

what were the parents doing when their kid was getting in the way ? gawping at their phones? or filming this ?

@GinandGobbledegook

I saw this earlier and wondered the same. I then got into a you tube rabbit hole and saw lots of incidents that were very similar. Pushing people out of the way etc.

It really shocked me

Oh wow. That's shocking. I've never witnessed this in real life so I don't know the circumstances around what usually happens when they barge march though, if there are warnings or signs etc, but I just can't think of a scenario outside of threat to life that would require an adult man to kick a child out of the way.

But he didn't even look back to check they were OK. Surely they are human and have some compassion?

@iheartredsquirrels

what were the parents doing when their kid was getting in the way ? gawping at their phones? or filming this ?

His mother is standing right next to him, it appears both their backs were turned

The child, according to eye wirptnesses quited in ITV news thus evening, ran out suddenly and unexpectedly, so some sort of collision was inevitable.

It looked appealing in the footage though. But that cut off afterbthe soldiers had taken 3 or 4 further paces. Anyone know if there is any footage showing more of the afternpmsth?

Also, in assuming that the weapons were not loaded. But am I wrong about that?

@GinandGobbledegook

But he didn't even look back to check they were OK. Surely they are human and have some compassion?

Because when they look back and get distracted is the moment when someone with less than good intentions can try to take advantage of said distraction and try to get the weapons off them, for example. Those aren't for show, those are loaded and armed rifles.

They can't afford to let themselves be distracted. They're on duty.

ffs, the guards aren't there to add some colour for tourist snaps, they are actually working and carrying out their duties. They get a lot of flak from tourists trying to make them laugh when on sentry duty too. some people need to grow up and some parents need to keep their dc under control.

They’re working soldiers. They’re there to do a job, which means the tourists move out of their way, not the other way around.

Apparently the soldier went back and checked on the lad and was assured he was fine

The parents should have moved their child! These men are doing a job, they are not just there to impress tourists!

I was expecting it to be an over reaction, but he should have swerved or stopped. That was shocking.

Also, in assuming that the weapons were not loaded. But am I wrong about that?

They are loaded.

People really don't seem to realise that these are soldiers on active duty.

They didn't kick him, they collided with him as he was in the way and then stepped over him in order to avoid stepping on him.

That. The headline is entirely overblown. The kid wasn't trampled. The closest description would be to say he was tripped over.

At least it wasn't the US, so the kid wasn't shot.

Try crossing a road during an Orange March.

Makes that look a kiss on the cheek!

I agree the parents should have kept their kid out of the way.

@WhiskyTangoFoxtrot

The child, according to eye wirptnesses quited in ITV news thus evening, ran out suddenly and unexpectedly, so some sort of collision was inevitable.

It looked appealing in the footage though. But that cut off afterbthe soldiers had taken 3 or 4 further paces. Anyone know if there is any footage showing more of the afternpmsth?

Also, in assuming that the weapons were not loaded. But am I wrong about that?

Of course the weapons are loaded, they are the monarch's guards!

@Lockheart

They didn't kick him, they collided with him as he was in the way and then stepped over him in order to avoid stepping on him.

They can't get distracted by people trying to block their paths or get them to stop, they're armed soldiers on duty, not decorative baubles.

As for defending the Queen, surely she was safely tucked up in Windsor Castle baby sitting Prince Andrew?

I think it stinks (and I have family serving in the army). If you swapped that uniform for a police officers there would be absolute outrage.

The kid wasn't kicked at all.

And if you slow the video down, you can see the guard tried hard to side step when he noticed the child at the very last second, but it was too late.

It is understood that the guard are there for a serious reason. Everyone knows that.

However the decision has also been made to open areas to tourists or have them walk on public land. You would think if there are serving military members who must have clear and direct routes to march along, perhaps these should not be in areas open to tourists or in public spaces?

Why they can't apply common sense is beyond me rather than sticking to archaic hundreds of year old rules for 'tradition' only. It makes them no better at doing their actual job or duties.

Ultimately these guards as part of their job are expected to knock random people over. Rather than just apply common sense and walk around any loose individuals. I'm sure they don't enjoy it.

I blame the military and royals for sticking to all this archaic (and pointless) BS rules. They could easily be flexed in areas where the public are.