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

I did ask in my OP to be enlightened and explained that I don't know how it works

Well that's abundantly clear. I'm not even in favour of the RF but the number of people who try to "test" the royal guards just for social media likes etc is just shameful. The guards are required as a condition of their employment not to react. It's incredibly unfair & it's no wonder they are told not to stop for or move around, but just to step past or over people.

"Try crossing a road during an Orange March"

Good way to get a deacon pole up the arse lol

@Fortunei

Watching the video in slow I have an impression that the kid deliberately obstructs the guard to test his actions. If i were his parent I’d been ashamed because I didn’t bring him up to be a respectful person

I thought that too. He had time to get out of the way.

@LegoNinjago @HereForThis
No they actually can’t stop. That child could have been being used as a distraction. Thery cannot be distracted.

@JohnHuffam1812

"The video was taken at the Tower of London. It was last used as a royal residence 500 years ago."

Yet still houses one of the most valuable collections in the world.

And was bombed in the 70's and would still be a potential terrorist target

There are some priceless pieces of regalia at the Tower which warrant the Queens Guards.

Yes, lest the ones that were 'acquired' during colonial rule try to find their way back

Wow, child obstructs military manoeuvre and creates dangerous situation, solider deals with it professionally. Any parent who thinks the security of the residence of the head of state/historic royal collections should just be paused because of their inept diddums is utterly losing the run of themselves.

They’re trained soldiers guarding properties that are high profile terrorist and security targets. A child getting a scratch on the knee is a tiny price to pay for ensuring that they can’t be distracted and the entire process flawed—you realise that they would be trained on this, specifically because if you were targeting this location you’d set up such a situation?

I know these 'soldiers' are part of the monarchy and all its weird and outdated traditions but these soldiers couldn't run a mile in those ridiculous outfits. Surely they're just there for the tourists now and that's okay to admit.

What do you actually want from this op?

You seem a bit like a dog with a bone...

@LynxGiftsetAndSocks

What do you actually want from this op?

You seem a bit like a dog with a bone...

Yep.

@offtothebeach

I know these 'soldiers' are part of the monarchy and all its weird and outdated traditions but these soldiers couldn't run a mile in those ridiculous outfits. Surely they're just there for the tourists now and that's okay to admit.

They’re really not. Have you ever met any of them, heard about their training? Heard about the scenarios they train for?

Meh 🤷🏻‍♀️ Kid was unharmed and won’t be doing that again. Perhaps he will pay more attention to where he’s going in future. Or his parents will.

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

They're doing a piss poor job of guarding the queen given that a man invaded the grounds of Windsor Castle recently.

They're not really dressed for action. Their uniform and equipment are not fit for purpose. Snipers on the roof and plain clothes officers mingling in the area are a far better idea. Or CCTV, which is how the Windsor Castle breach was first noticed.

They are 100% there for tourism purposes. Hence the silly, antiquated uniforms and the marching about.

Knocking the child over was a completely unnecessarily brutal way to conduct themselves. It may have been acceptable back when urchins were hanged or transported to the British Gulag of Australia for stealing bread, but it has no place in the world of 2021.

@DickMabutt73962

There are some priceless pieces of regalia at the Tower which warrant the Queens Guards.

Yes, lest the ones that were 'acquired' during colonial rule try to find their way back

And I think we just got to the crux of the outrage.

Yes Britain's history through today's glasses, is horrific, imperialism and colonisation. But we weren't the only Empire running around doing it, so we're the French and the Spanish. Many of their jewels come from "questionable" sources. But you can't apply today's better morals and judgment to archaic times. It was sadly "the done thing". We can say "it was terrible and today we would never do such a thing" but what's done is done.

Some of those jewels and artifacts however are medieval in origin. Do we need to go back that far? Or can we just accept it is what it is, they are the monarchs and have been for a century or two now nearly.

So, OP, you don’t “understand” traditions ... hmm should the state just cancel them for you?
What else do you not understand? Higher maths? Microbiology? Should we just cancel it all for you?

This is not Disney land.

The soldier did what he had to do. He was not brutal just did not have time to react.

@Theimpossiblegirl

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

Guards will not break step when they are on duty. Why did this silly woman not have her son under control? And to top it all, have the nerve to go bleating to the press.

@Fortunei

So, OP, you don’t “understand” traditions ... hmm should the state just cancel them for you? What else do you not understand? Higher maths? Microbiology? Should we just cancel it all for you?

I thought an explanation of tradition would make it clearer why the action of the guard was necessary. So I've received some explanations, which is what this discussion was about.

I still think it doesn't justify it though

I've lived here over a decade. I have very little interest in the drama and ceremony surrounding Royal life.

In other words, you've lived here over a decade, haven't particularly wondered about the RF in that time (not completely unreasonable) but have now decided to complain about the way they do things without finding out why (definitely unreasonable).

Perhaps, if you're going to complain about an aspect of the country you've moved to, find out about it first. Find out what happens, why, the history & traditions, & purpose of the the thing you're complaining about. I'm sure the country you originate from has many traditions that might seem confusing to an outsider too, but they would make sense if only you would take the time to educate yourself.

@mathanxiety

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

They're doing a piss poor job of guarding the queen given that a man invaded the grounds of Windsor Castle recently.

They're not really dressed for action. Their uniform and equipment are not fit for purpose. Snipers on the roof and plain clothes officers mingling in the area are a far better idea. Or CCTV, which is how the Windsor Castle breach was first noticed.

They are 100% there for tourism purposes. Hence the silly, antiquated uniforms and the marching about.

Knocking the child over was a completely unnecessarily brutal way to conduct themselves. It may have been acceptable back when urchins were hanged or transported to the British Gulag of Australia for stealing bread, but it has no place in the world of 2021.

Well said.

It's really a pretty appalling piece of PR. And (in agreement with what you've said) all the fannying about in silly clothes is supposed to be PR. The actual protection is provided rather more discretely.

@mathanxiety

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

They're doing a piss poor job of guarding the queen given that a man invaded the grounds of Windsor Castle recently.

They're not really dressed for action. Their uniform and equipment are not fit for purpose. Snipers on the roof and plain clothes officers mingling in the area are a far better idea. Or CCTV, which is how the Windsor Castle breach was first noticed.

They are 100% there for tourism purposes. Hence the silly, antiquated uniforms and the marching about.

Knocking the child over was a completely unnecessarily brutal way to conduct themselves. It may have been acceptable back when urchins were hanged or transported to the British Gulag of Australia for stealing bread, but it has no place in the world of 2021.

They aren't the queen's body guards, that's what the close protection team are for.

They guard asset and infrastructure, and I can assure you they can perform their duties in the uniform. They can run and they can fight. Ok the bearskin might fall off, but that wouldn't be essential it's not a helmet. Guards do the same promotion courses and fitness courses as other branches of the military. They still have to have qualifying fitness times, and they can still run in boots and a coat. They are hardly prancing about in high heels and a straight jacket. 🤦🏻‍♀️

It was brutal and unnecessary .
Big man boots trampled all over a young child. Where does he think he is, the middle of a war zone?

If the guards are doing a serious job, they need to cordon the area so that no one gets in their way, and not have children, citizens and tourists mingling around - that does not help them identify threats. Basics of military.

His shouting was inaudible - I presume even much so for a tourist or child who would not expect it.

Disgusting !

I’d be really interested to know how many of you who think the soldier did a terrible thing are from London or from a town where there is any sort of military presence? It was one of the first things we were taught as kids. Look where you’re going, get out the way of anyone marching towards you.

They have conditioned you well. And conditioned the forces to treat you like dirt.

No wonder the government was able to effectively crush the ability of the people to protest in the streets, to the cheers of those who can't see beyond their own noses.

@Sn0tnose

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.

I'm in the US, and I've never been to the UK, but even I know this. Tourists are supposed to stay out of the way. 🤷‍♀️

@DickMabutt73962

There are some priceless pieces of regalia at the Tower which warrant the Queens Guards.

Yes, lest the ones that were 'acquired' during colonial rule try to find their way back

And there we have the real reason for the faux outrage and disingenuous wide eyed innocence of not understanding the traditions, only took 6 pages to get to the crux of it.