US News

Queen’s Guard points bayonet at Buckingham Palace ‘intruder’

A Buckingham Palace guard, dressed in a traditional red uniform and tall hat, drew his  bayonet-fixed rifle on a combative visitor, according to published reports on Sunday.

The Sun newspaper published an eye-catching front-page photograph the incident  — with the headline “Gun drama at the Palace” — which happened early Friday evening at Buckingham Palace.

A man had been screaming at cops  for about five minutes, demanding access to the Queen’s residence,  before the ceremonial guard grabbed his weapon and rushed to intervene, witnesses said.

The guard left his post at the palace’s North Centre Gate and walked 50 yards to reach the confrontation, according to witnesses.

The tip of the guard’s bayonet was less than an arm’s length away from the agitated man.

“Oh you’re a big boy now,” the would-be intruder told the not-so-ceremonial guard, according to witness, Gareth Scanlan, a 32-year-old tourist.

“Yes I am a big boy,”   said the guard, wearing a traditional red tunic and tall bearskin hat.

The guard pushed him back, before more reinforcement showed up.

The man was briefly detained and then released with a warning.

“Officers  from Royalty protection spoke to a male and he was given words of advice,” according to a police statement. “There were no arrests.’