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Original poster

Royal guard video kicking child in the way

1000 replies

DickMabutt73962 · 29/12/2021 23:23

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

OP posts:
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5
NdujaWannaDance · 30/12/2021 11:33

As a sensible suggestion... maybe marking the routes with lines on the pavement so people know where the soldiers march and to keep away from when they are approaching?

That would be a sensible solution. I don't really understand why the public need to get quite so close anyway.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/12/2021 11:34

either they have a serious defence role to play in which case there should be better crowd control, barriers and be able to react to the unexpected in more appropriate ways, and probably not let their military manoeuvres be filmed by every Tom, Dick and Harry, or they're there for the tourists in which case stepping to the side isn't a huge deal

Their purpose is indeed serious with the tourist attraction being an incidental benefit, but do we really need barriers for every last thing because some seem incapable of using common sense (especially when they often wouldn't work, given the idiots who use them as climbing frames)?

And for those who keep on about "ticket holders", you don't need a ticket to watch the changing of the guard

KeflavikAirport · 30/12/2021 11:34

Proper safety barriers would be my first port of call if they were serious about accessibility, and why wouldn't they be?

A sniper would have no trouble picking off soldiers trained never to break ranks, would they?

JabNotInArm · 30/12/2021 11:35

As a sensible suggestion... maybe marking the routes with lines on the pavement so people know where the soldiers march and to keep away from when they are approaching?

There are videos of members of the public stepping over fences etc for photos and being crashed into by guards. There really is no accounting for people

Simonjt · 30/12/2021 11:35

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

As a sensible suggestion... maybe marking the routes with lines on the pavement so people know where the soldiers march and to keep away from when they are approaching?
The route is marked out beforehand by a Beefeater, they also clearly and loudly explain rules and the expectations of the crowds.
RoyalFamilyFan · 30/12/2021 11:36

@KeflavikAirport

Proper safety barriers would be my first port of call if they were serious about accessibility, and why wouldn't they be?

A sniper would have no trouble picking off soldiers trained never to break ranks, would they?

That is impossible for some areas they march. The only solution would be to exclude tourists.
JohnHuffam1812 · 30/12/2021 11:36

Why ruin a historic site because of idiots who can't read signs, listen to announcements or look where they are going.

These changes happen every day, several times a day, for decades with tourists present.

There aren't many cases of people getting stepped over.

blueshoes · 30/12/2021 11:37

Tourists around the world can be pretty stupid. Can't totally legislate for stupidity.

DoctorSnortles · 30/12/2021 11:38

Kid should have moved. Honestly, what a bloody fuss.

mathanxiety · 30/12/2021 11:40

@NdujaWannaDance, I am on the side of the prosecution if the footage of your hypothetical incident shows trampling. I'll check it carefully of course, just as I have checked the TikTok video.

I see someone being trampled on in the video. It's the young child. Are you seriously suggesting that this Guardsman managed to avoid contact between his foot and a child rolling underneath him on the pavement?

There was ample room on the right to step aside safely. Unlike your scenario, the Guardsman had a choice about where to walk if he wanted to avoid barreling into a young child.

CoedenNadolig · 30/12/2021 11:40

@mathanxiety

Hang on you think there are rooftop snipers at the tower of London every day? 😳 I mean, I hate to burst your bubble, but there are not snipers on stag on a rooftop every day and hour. What a fucking shit posting that would be

How so? Do you think a man with a hat down over his eyes, marching in a straight line and staring straight ahead is going to be much use spotting a terrorist, and if deviating from the route of the march and tackling the terrorist is going to cause immediate chaos in the ranks, how useful are the Guards, realistically?

And if London isn't an active war zone, how necessary was it to run into a young child and knock him to the ground?

Oh math, you are far to invested in this by your anti British position. 😂

I've been a waitress, I've literally pushed a child out of my way with my foot when carrying two trays of pints and food, because they were under my feet. Rather than sat at the table with their parents, they were just running around the resteraunt. Should we cordon off the walking routes in resteraunts for the waitresses. 😂

It was either that or then have 6 pints and some starters dropped on them.

They got a hoofing instead and they stayed out of the way for the rest of the time.

Life is like that, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

XelaM · 30/12/2021 11:40

The kid WAS kicked on the video! And the guard could have absolutely taken a side step. Absolutely disgusting behaviour

Cofifeefee · 30/12/2021 11:40

HE. DID. NOT. END. UP. UNDER. ANYONE'S. FEET.

It's not entirely clear from the video but it looks like the soldier may have stood on his foot while trying to step over him.

I think the main point is though that when the soldier walked into him (I don't think you could describe it as being bumped into since it wasn't accidental; the soldier had enough time to shout "Make Way" so obviously saw him) he didn't know what the outcome was going to be. The boy could have fell awkwardly and twisted an ankle/received a head injury/kicked out in defence and brought the soldier down on top of him.

I'm not on either side tbh; it was an accident but I can't understand why they don't just put up a barrier.

mathanxiety · 30/12/2021 11:42

That is impossible for some areas they march. The only solution would be to exclude tourists.

Why would this be a problem? The Tower is not Disneyland, and nobody wants tourist dollars, it seems.

It's a significant terrorist target, so everyone would be better off keeping the public out.

DinoDinner · 30/12/2021 11:42

@TonytheDog

Your thread title is disingenuous. The Royal Guard didn't kick a child.

They are soldiers. They are armed. He adjusted his pace so as not to hurt the child. He did t kick him.

Don't post a thread with a 'click bait' title.

Complete shity clickbait thread title. And all the Mumnet Pearl Clutching!

I vote this for the most pathetic thread 2021.

XelaM · 30/12/2021 11:42

Agree with @mathanxiety

JabNotInArm · 30/12/2021 11:43

I've watched the video and it's clear he actually tried to side step to the right when it's apparent the child is just going to stay in his path, then the child moves back and they collide. The child and his parents are to blame here. Anyone who disagrees has an agenda

AuntyBumBum · 30/12/2021 11:43

This sums it up pretty well. These ceremonial "guarding" duties need to be rethought. If they served a useful purpose then the recent "intruder-in-the-palace" story might not have happened.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/12/2021 11:44

Maybe it should be "please Mr tourist can you get out of my way"

Not enough I'm afraid
You'd need at least a marching band (even a Guards one) visiting everyone with precise instructions beforehand - which some would still ignore - and a counselling team on hand in case anyone was traumatised by the shouting or the fact that those hats were made from (faints) real bears Wink

thebellagio · 30/12/2021 11:44

I went to the Tower of London in October half term. We saw the exact same guards from the same position, and as they were about to start marching, there was another soldier there who warned people repeatedly to step back because they would be marching in that direction and wouldn’t stop for anything. Therefore, there was absolutely no excuse for the child or parents not to know. We heard that warning at least 4 times in the minutes leading up to the March,

JohnHuffam1812 · 30/12/2021 11:45

Math is wrong

She showed her hypocrisy with Arlington..

Point proven

EvenTheReceptionStaffHaveLeft · 30/12/2021 11:45

It's a significant terrorist target, so everyone would be better off keeping the public out

It is partly BECAUSE of the public that it’s a target. Most terrorist groups target civilians to cause TERROR its in the name.

mathanxiety · 30/12/2021 11:46

Should we cordon off the walking routes in resteraunts for the waitresses.

Why would we go to all that trouble and expense when we can simply kick customers out of the way?

We could arm them too, so that they could really put the fear of god crossways in pesky customers.

Furries · 30/12/2021 11:46

They are doing their job, they carry live ammunition and they call out a warning.

I’d have thought parents would grasp this basic fact. A few on here have dismissed it along the lines of “the parent was distracted, it’s easy to take your off for a moment”.

I’m guessing you wouldn’t take your eye off a kid at the Grand National, or a Grande Prix race, or at the Tour de France barrelling down a country road? It’s parental responsibility responsibility to understand the attractions that kids are taken to.

Totally the fault of the parent.

JabNotInArm · 30/12/2021 11:47

Why would we go to all that trouble and expense when we can simply kick customers out of the way? We could arm them too, so that they could really put the fear of god crossways in pesky customers.

@mathanxiety - should we do away with waitresses then? Or expect people to teach their children how to behave in a restaurant?

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