The Home Secretary today backed an armed police officer who berated tourists for ‘ridiculing’ a King’s Guard on duty.

James Cleverly’s praise for the officer’s actions came after footage initially posted on TikTok showed a group shouting and laughing at the guard in central London.

It showed the tourists, believed to be American, apparently trying to get the guard to engage with them.

But an armed police officer swooped in to discuss the matter with the guard before warning the group to stop. 

‘These soldiers serve their country, they take their job seriously, they are responsible for protecting this facility, they are not an object of ridicule,’ he told them.

In response to a video of the incident shared on Twitter/X, Mr Cleverly posted: ‘Well said.’

Johnny Mercer, the veteran affairs minister, also offered his support to the armed police officer, writing: ‘Spot on.’

Home Secretary James Cleverly backed an armed police officer who berated tourists for ‘ridiculing’ a King’s Guard on duty

Johnny Mercer, the veteran affairs minister, also offered his support to the armed police officer, writing: ‘Spot on.’

In the footage, the tourists had their phones out to  film the uniformed guard and capture each other laughing.

But the armed officer intervened to warn them: ‘These soldiers serve their country, they take their job seriously, they are responsible for protecting this facility, they are not an object of ridicule.  

‘I appreciate you’re having fun, he’s not having fun, he’s got a long day, he has a lot of hours he’s got to do. It is tiring, exhausting, and you take the p*** out of him. 

‘We do not appreciate that. I will ask you to leave the facility.’

Other viewers of the video were also quick to praise the police officer, with one writing: ‘Officer handled this like a champ.’

Another added: ‘Well done to that police officer.’

Footage posted on TikTok showed the tourists, believed to be American, shouting and laughing at the guard in central London

But an armed police officer swooped in to discuss the matter with the guard before warning the group of tourists to stop 

It comes after a tourist was screamed at by a King’s Guard after venturing too close to his horse last year.

In the video, people could be seen clamouring around a mounted guard on Horse Guard’s parade. 

Multiple nervous tourists were seen approaching the mounted guard, respecting their distance and posing for smiling photographs. 

Some were seen putting their hands on the enormous horse’s flanks, which the mounted guard permitted. 

But one tourist overstepped the limit and in the process of trying to touch the horse tampered with the reins, causing the King’s Guard to bellow: ‘Do not touch the reins!’

Clearly in a state of shock, the tourist backed away from the horse and raised a hand in apology. 

One tourist overstepped the limit, and in the process of trying to touch the horse tampered with the reins

This caused the King’s Guard to bellow: ‘Do not touch the reins!’

Just a few months earlier a video was shared online of a blonde woman standing in a guard’s way at Horse Guards Parade before he ‘pushed’ her out the way. 

The woman, who was holding a blue can of Pringles, was seen standing very close to one of the mounted guards, while other bystanders gave the guards more room by standing further away.

Despite a King’s Guard on foot asking the woman to step back when he first passed her to salute his fellow guards, she stepped even closer to the agitated horse of the mounted guard.

And when the same guard later walked back towards the gates, the woman moved right into his path. He shouted ‘make way’ and used his arm to move the woman out of his path, which left her furious.

But despite videos often showing the Kings’ Guard upholding their duties, there have been moments when they break protocol to make someone’s day. 

An elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King’s Guard last July when the soldier moved closer to her as she posed for a photo with her husband. 

A video posted on social media showed the couple – both of whom were proudly displaying their medals – moving as close as they dare to the mounted soldier.

But, having apparently realised they had both served their country, the soldier, who was wearing his customary plumed helmet and armour, quickly urged his horse closer to them before allowing the woman to pat his steed’s nose.

In a separate incident a blonde woman was seen standing in a guard’s way at Horse Guards Parade 

He shouted ‘make way’ and used his arm to move the woman out of his path, which left her furious

An elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King’s Guard when the soldier moved closer to her and allowed the woman to pat his horse’s nose

Beaming, the couple then moved away and the soldier directed his horse back into position.

In another show of kindness in the same month, a member of the King’s Guard won praise after going out of his way to make a young man with Down’s syndrome feel comfortable. 

A video of Mike van Erp, 50, better known by his YouTube name CyclingMikey, and the youngster posing for a photo at Buckingham Palace caused a stir after being shared on YouTube.

Footage showed how a kind-hearted member of the King’s Guard moved closer to Mike and the boy who were trying to get a photo to remember their trip to Horse Guards Parade.

Taking to Twitter to post about their day out, Mike – who is a professional carer –  explained: ‘I’ve worked for his family and him for a decade now. 

‘We were out on a cycle ride on my tandem bicycle and stopped by the Horse Guards Parade.’

He admitted that ‘both I and the young lad’ got a bit of a scare ‘when he stepped closer to us’ because it was so unexpected, adding: ‘This left me with tears in my eyes for a few evenings.’

A member of the King’s Guard won praise after going out of his way to make a young man with Down’s syndrome feel comfortable after moving closer to him as he posed for a photo

After Twitter users initially thought that Mike was the boy’s father, he clarified: ‘I’m also not his dad, although I’d be proud to be.’

‘I’m very grateful to the soldier,’ he continued. ‘I’m lucky I had good parents and went to a Jesuit school that cared about me and taught me well, same for the young lad I’m with. Tears in my eyes.’

The King’s Guards are posted for public duties outside Buckingham and St James’s Palaces, and at Horse Guards on Whitehall.

Although their role is mostly ceremonial, they are part of the British Army’s Household Division and patrol the palaces, guarding the sovereign at night.

A sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses may kick or bite, telling them not to touch the reins.