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- One of King Charles' soldiers is being praised for his unexpected gesture when a young man with Down syndrome approached for a photo at Horse Guards Parade in London.
- In a clip that has since gone viral, a stoic soldier steps toward 17-year-old Ibrahim and friend Mike van Erp to create a better picture.
- Horse Guards Parade at St. James' Park is most famous for its affiliation with Trooping the Colour.
One of King Charles' soldiers is being praised for his unexpected gesture when a young man with Down syndrome approached for a photo.
In a clip widely shared across social media, 17-year-old Ibrahim and his friend Mike van Erp walk up to take a photo with an unnamed member of the Household Calvary's Blues and Royals regiment at the Horse Guards Parade in London.
Noticing the pair, the stoic soldier took a surprise step toward them to create a better picture.
"[Ibrahim] was nervous around the guard, probably because I was being careful to give the soldier space and because the guard has such emphatic body language," van Erp told Forces Network.
Watch the clip HERE.
A video of the gesture, shared on TikTok by @theroyalkingsguardengla7, has since received over 500 000 views, with comment flooding in praising the guard.
It even caught the eye of Major Steve Parker, an official at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Prince William and Prince Harry both went.
"I am proud to be a member of @HCav1660 (Blues and Royals) every single day, but seeing this young Trooper do this has me bursting with Pride," Parker tweeted last Saturday. "Well done, young man, you are a fantastic example of the empathetic, strong young leaders we need in the @BritishArmy."
Horse Guards Parade at St. James' Park is most famous for its affiliation with Trooping the Colour, per People.
The annual Trooping the Colour parade marks the British sovereign's official birthday. This year's colourful display of regimental precision and pageantry parade in June was the first of 74-year-old Charles's reign.
READ MORE | First Trooping the Colour parade for Britain's King Charles
