Buckingham Palace guard points bayonet-fixed rifle at 'ranting' man

LONDON, April 6 (UPI) -- Famously stoic Queen's Guard soldiers, with their tall hats and red coats, make for popular photo opportunities outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.

But one particular guard saw a little action on Friday, when he left his post to defend a police officer against an aggressive palace visitor.

According to The Sun, which published a photo of the incident, a man hoping to get closer to the palace started ranting at an officer.

After about five minutes, the Queen's Guard soldier walked 50 yards to the scene and pointed his bayonet-fixed rifle at the man.

“Oh you’re a big boy now,” the man reportedly told the guard.

"Yes I am a big boy,” the guard said.

Police detained the suspect but decided not to arrest him.

"Police were made aware of a disturbance at the North-Centre Gate of Buckingham Palace at approximately 5.50pm on Friday, April 4," the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. "Officers from Royalty Protection spoke to a man and he was given words of advice and there were no arrests."

[The Sun via NY Post, ITV]