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

Watch: Armed police officer scolds American tourists for heckling King's Guard

An armed 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.

Watch: Complete guide to the uniforms of the Household Division

Social media users were quick to support the armed officer's actions, with one writing: "Officer handled this like a champ."

Another wrote: "Would they ever do this at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [in Arlington National Cemetery]? Of course not, so why do they think they can do with our military?"

The clip has now been viewed more than 1.9 million times in less than two days since it was posted online.

Kallum, who posted the video to his TikTok account, told Forces News: "I think it's very disrespectful to come here from abroad and do things like this to people who serve in the British Army.

"I don't think they understand these are fully trained soldiers who have a job to do."

The 24-year-old from Hull was visiting London at the time and added that "the police officer responded very well and was very direct on what he thought of them and asked them to leave straight away".

The soldier seen standing guard is a member of the Life Guards, which forms part of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The troopers wear bright red tunics and have white plumes in their helmets and white sheepskins over their saddles.