Tourists scrambled out of the way as a King's Guard horse appeared to become distressed in Britain's scorching May heatwave. Footage captured the moment the horse suddenly began circling outside Horse Guards Parade in central London, tossing its head and stamping around in front of stunned crowds.
Hottest Day of the Year
The visibly agitated animal appeared increasingly uncomfortable as temperatures soared on what became the hottest day of the year so far, and the hottest May Bank Holiday ever recorded in the UK. Holidaymakers clutching phones and cameras could be seen backing away as the horse moved erratically near the barriers, while others continued trying to snap pictures beside the ceremonial guard despite the animal's obvious distress.
In a rare break from strict protocol, another guard was seen emerging from the Horse Guards Building to calm the horse down, gently stroking it and attempting to settle it before it was eventually led away from the heat.
Record-Breaking Heat
The incident unfolded as London baked in near-record temperatures during an extraordinary early summer heatwave that has swept across Britain. The mercury climbed to 34.8C at Kew Gardens on Monday, officially making it the hottest May Bank Holiday on record. Across the capital, streets, parks and tourist hotspots were packed with people soaking up the sunshine as Britain experienced temperatures more typical of southern Europe.
But the blistering conditions also caused chaos across parts of the country. Britain then endured its hottest May night on record, with temperatures at Kenley Airfield in south London failing to drop below 21.3C overnight, officially classed by the Met Office as a 'tropical night'.
Forecasters Warn of Further Heat
Forecasters warned temperatures could climb even higher, potentially reaching an unprecedented 36C in some areas. The Met Office said the heat is 'exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May'. Commuters faced difficult journeys this morning after train services were disrupted amid the extreme weather, with South Western Railway blaming cancellations and delays on the soaring temperatures.
Packed tubes, trains and buses were left sweltering as millions headed back to work following the bank holiday weekend. Thousands of Britons had flocked to beaches, beauty spots and parks during the sunshine despite official advice urging people to stay out of direct sunlight during peak temperatures.
To officially qualify as a heatwave, temperatures must exceed a set threshold for three consecutive days. In London and parts of the South East, that threshold is 28C, a figure surpassed with ease during the current spell. Forecasters say temperatures will gradually begin to ease later this week, although much of the country is still expected to remain warm and dry with highs continuing into the upper 20s.
