Mounted members of the Household Cavalry on horseback at Horse Guards Parade.Photo:Getty
Getty
One ofKing Charles' soldiers is being praised for his unexpected gesture when a young man with Down syndrome approached for a photo.
In a clip widely shared across social media, an unnamed member of the Household Calvary’s Blues and Royals regiment knew just what to do when Ibrahim, 17, and friend Mike van Erp came to take a photo at Horse Guards Parade in London,Forces Networkreported. As Ibrahim and Mike posed for a picture, the stoic soldier took a surprise step toward them to create a better picture.
“[Ibrahim] was nervous around the guard, probably because I was being careful to give the soldier space and because the guard has such emphatic body language,” van Erp told the outlet.
Video footage of the guard’s gesture has since been viewed over five million times onTikTokand even caught the eye of Major Steve Parker, an official at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (wherePrince WilliamandPrince Harryboth went).
“I am proud to be a member of@HCav1660(Blues and Royals) every single day but seeing this young Trooper do this has me bursting with Pride. Well done young man, you are a fantastic example of the empathetic, strong young leaders we need in the@BritishArmy,” Parkertweetedon Friday.
van Erp told Forces Network he has known Ibrahim for a decade and is grateful for the bond they share.
“He’s pretty important to me, as much as my own two sons are,” he explained.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
King Charles became the ceremonial head of the prestigious division’s seven regiments — the Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Guards, Blues and Royals, Scots Guards, Life Guards and Coldstream Guards — followingQueen Elizabeth’s death in September and his subsequent accession.
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Prince William and Princess Anne ride at Trooping the Colour in 2022.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty
On June 17, about 1,500 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians came together for the first Trooping the Colour performed in King Charles’ honor.
Royal Parksreports that multiple troopers share the duty of guarding Horse Guards Parade each day, andPrincess Anneserves as Colonel-in-Chief of the Blues and Royals.
source: people.com
