On the morning of April 24, 2024, several horses from the British Army's Household Cavalry escaped during routine exercise in London. The animals were spooked by falling concrete from nearby construction work and bolted through the city.
Five of these horses broke free and caused chaos as they ran amok near Buckingham Palace, injuring at least four people. One horse was covered in blood after colliding with a bus, while another shattered the windscreen of a double-decker tour bus and smashed the windows of a Mercedes taxi.
The horses were part of an extended exercise session for the Household Cavalry, who perform ceremonial duties around Buckingham Palace. The British Army confirmed that all horses have now been recovered and returned to camp.
City of London Police reported incidents of loose horses in the financial district at around 8:40am, while Westminster Police later announced that they had accounted for all the animals involved. The Metropolitan Police also stated that they were working with colleagues, including the Army, to locate any remaining horses.
The incident caused significant disruption during rush hour traffic and resulted in injuries to several people. One soldier was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while another received treatment for their wounds on site. A cyclist was also reportedly injured during the chaos.
Construction workers near Belgravia were identified as the cause of the horses' spooking, leading to their escape. The Army stated that they were continuing to liaise with these workers and other authorities to ensure a similar incident does not occur in the future.
