Overview

• The video, shared by @royalguards_england21, shows a young girl placing cash in a guard’s boot outside St James’s Palace before the horse nuzzles her forehead.
• The clip has garnered over 2.5 million views and sparked praise online for the girl’s mindful approach to the ceremonial horse and soldier.
• Leaving money in a King’s Guard boot is an unofficial, rarely seen custom often viewed as a good-luck gesture or charitable donation.
• The guard quietly signalled his mount to move forward, marking an unusual protocol exception in response to the girl’s gesture.
• Experts note that although these horses are highly trained, they can bite or kick if touched or provoked, which is why warning signs advise visitors to keep their distance.