Police escorts on The Mall are usually reserved for visits by high-profile heads of state. But when two families of Greylag geese made a trip to St James's Palace, they too were awarded a special guard of honour by officers helping them back home.
Unusual Escort for Feathered Friends
The 11 goslings and four geese were attempting to cross The Mall to the Marlborough Gate entrance of St James's Park from the Palace when a police car with flashing sirens pulled up alongside. Two officers got out and stopped traffic before marshalling the little ones and their parents to safety just after 8am on Sunday.
Bemused tourists instantly reached for their smartphones, no doubt expecting a convoy of gleaming limousines to speed by towards Buckingham Palace. Instead, they were treated to the wholesome sight of the geese, captured perfectly by passing photographer Jeremy Selwyn.
Photographer's Delight
'I was driving up The Mall and hopped out of my car when I saw the police siren, and I thought "What is going on here?"' the 63-year-old told the Daily Mail. 'I was worried that something bad had happened at first, but then I saw these tiny creatures with their mums and dads waddling over the crossing accompanied by police officers.'
'It was a lovely sight, so I thought, I best take some pictures quickly! The police seemed to be loving it as well as the tourists. I expect they all thought someone important was about to whiz past when the police car suddenly pulled out and stopped the traffic.'
'Fair play to the police because with all the traffic and cyclists they could easily have been knocked down.'
Wildlife in the Royal Park
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds confirmed the pictures showed Greylag geese, which are native to Britain. Along with Canadian and Egyptian geese, they live in St James's Park, which is also home to Great White Pelicans and a variety of ducks. The wildlife in the park are considered Crown property and are cared for by The Royal Parks, a registered charity.
