This is the moment a startled horse drawing a carriage with the ceremonial mace inside jumped onto its hind legs en route to the state opening of Parliament.
Footage shows the horse, who is one of two pulling a black carriage on a street in Westminster, become startled and restless whilst standing in a stationary position.
The animal jumps onto its hind legs as two royal postilions quickly move to calm it down, as it backs away again before finally settling.
This incident comes three months after a group of Household Cavalry horses were left covered in blood after bolting through London.
The horse was pulling the carriage containing the ceremonial mace which was travelling to the House of Lords for the historic State Opening of Parliament.
On a day filled with pomp and pageantry, King Charles revealed Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for Britain in the first speech from the throne under a Labour government for 14 years.
Footage shows the horse, who is one of two pulling a black carriage on a quiet side street in Westminster, become startled and restless whilst standing in a stationary position
The horse was pulling the carriage containing the ceremonial mace (pictured) which was travelling to the House of Lords for the historic State Opening of Parliament
Charles and Queen Camilla were taken to Parliament in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, pulled by six grey horses in the glorious sunshine.
The ceremonial mace arrived in its own carriage – as did The Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Great Sword of State.
The mace – a five-foot, silver-gilt ornamental staff – is the symbol of royal authority and without it neither House can meet or pass laws.
Each day that the House is sitting, the mace is carried to the Chamber at the head of the Speaker’s procession by the Serjeant at Arms and placed on the table of the House.
For today’s opening of Parliament, the mace was carried by the Serjeant at Arms as they accompanied the Black Rod, the senior official responsible for maintaining order at the House of Lords, who led a procession of MPs back to the House to listen to the King’s speech.
Black Rod Sarah Clarke made her way to the House of Commons to fetch MPs at around 11.30am before having the door slammed in her face – as part of a bizarre ritual which dates back to the 1600s.
She then knocked three times with a ceremonial staff to gain entry, where she called upon the MPs to follow her back to the Lords.
In April, chaos erupted in central London when three Household Cavalry horses were left covered in blood after bolting through the city centre.
Four soldiers lost their mounts at just after 8.20am on April 24 before the animals fled through busy city streets, injuring four people in three separate incidents in the space of 10 minutes.
Horses slammed into a tour bus parked on Buckingham Palace Road and a taxi outside the Clermont Hotel – smashing their windows – before two were seen running through Aldwych with their chests covered in blood.
The horses rampaged for six miles before they were finally caught in Limehouse, east London. The injured horses saw a vet and all of the animals are now back with the Army.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla depart Buckingham Palace as they travel to Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament
The mace – a five-foot, silver-gilt ornamental staff – is the symbol of royal authority and without it neither House can meet or pass laws
One of the horses has also seemingly ran into a double-decker bus, smashing its windscreen
In July, a similar incident occurred in Knightsbridge when six horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment were conducting a routine exercise under the control of five soldiers.
The lead horse, which was being led rather than ridden, became loose after being spooked by a London bus. This then led to two riders being unseated from their horses, who also became loose.
Thankfully, no such drama ensued for today’s procession, which saw the King and Queen set off Buckingham Palace at 11am before they were escorted by the Household Calvary for a resplendent horse-drawn procession down the Mall.
They arrived to gun salutes, bell chimes and cheers from royal fans as they were welcomed through the gates of the Sovereign’s Entrance – a doorway that is reserved for the monarch.
The King and Queen then entered the House of Lords just before 11.30am, where they led a royal procession and took their seats on their thrones.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led MPs to the Lords, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer walking alongside Conservative leader Rishi Sunak. The pair chatted as they left the Commons together – less than two weeks after Sir Keir took over from Mr Sunak as Prime Minister.
As MPs took their seats, Charles, sitting in a throne which is slightly taller, then started unveiling Sir Keir’s plans for Britain in his speech.
