Armed police officer confronts American tourists for heckling member of King's Guard

An armed Metropolitan Police officer has been forced to step in and shut down a group of tourists who had been heckling a British soldier standing guard in London.

A video posted on social media site TikTok appears to show a group of American tourists filming the soldier and shouting out names, hoping to get a reaction from the Household Cavalry trooper who was standing guard.

Throughout the encounter, the cavalryman was calm and professional, remaining at ease with his sword in hand and giving no reaction to their jeers.

An armed police officer then steps in and tells the group of six tourists: "These soldiers serve their country. They take their job seriously. They are responsible for protecting this facility, they are not an object of ridicule.

"Appreciate you are having fun, he's not having fun, he's got a long day, it's a lot of hours he's got to do. It is tiring, it is exhausting, and you are taking the p*** out of him. We do not appreciate that and I will ask you to leave the facility."

The embarrassed group then quickly turned and left, as others watched the interaction unfold.

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