Acts of Kindness
Boy salutes royal guards not expecting one to break formation and single him out
The little boy's mom couldn't believe it when she saw one of the guards coming back.
Jenny Brown
01.27.23

As parents, we do anything we can to make our children’s birthdays extra special. Sometimes, we absolutely nail it too.

One British mom named Imogen Scott came up with a great idea for her son Marshall’s fourth birthday. She planned a visit to Windsor Castle for the “royal treatment.”

Unsplash - Peter Albanese
Source:
Unsplash - Peter Albanese

A tiny soldier himself

Marshall loves the Queen’s Guard and even has all the gear to dress up like one. And he knows how to march and salute as well.

So when Imogen took him to view his heroes up close wearing his Coldstream Guard costume, a video of his sweet gestures went viral.

According to The Daily Mail:

“The little drummer boy has learned military beats from his grandfather and loves to dress up in his special outfit and parade around the house – just like his heroes.”

YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)

Marshall looked so adorable that even tourists stopped to take photos with HIM!

No doubt he felt like the king for a day.

Facebook - Imogen Echo Scott
Source:
Facebook - Imogen Echo Scott

The changing of the guard.

It’s always exciting to watch the changing of the guard and Marshall stood with his mom as a line of guardsmen went marching towards their “Guard Room.”

The mini-soldier even saluted them as they passed by.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)

While seeing the guards up close would have been exciting enough – it got even better.

Marshall and his mom were shocked when one of them came back out and walked straight over to the boy.

He then signaled him over with his finger so they could take a photo together.

YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)

It’s not typical for a member of the guard to do something like that. But Lance Corporal Edden just couldn’t resist.

During an interview with the Evening Standard, he explained what made him do it:

“Usually I would just take the guardsmen in the guardroom as normal – but my wife and I are expecting a baby boy, and I remembered standing at Edinburgh Castle when I was younger hoping to get a picture with a soldier.”

He continued:

“I noticed Marshall in a Coldstream guards uniform, and seeing him coming out made me proud of what I do.”

YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)

The sweetness went viral.

Imogen Scott wrote on her Facebook page that it was the “BEST BIRTHDAY EVER” for her little tyke.

The Coldstream Guards also posted a social media message about the event. They wrote:

“We have a spot reserved for him at the Army Foundation College Harrogate for the March 2029 intake.”

When Imogen Scott was interviewed by The Daily Mail she revealed that her son was barely 2 years old when he first become obsessed.

She needed only to take him to one ceremony to have the majesty of the royal duty stick with him.

And, of course, he was enamored with his fancy costume:

“It was one size too big but Marshall wears it around the house all the time. We have to hide it from him sometimes,” she admitted.

Marshall and Lance Corporal Edden were even reunited on Sky News a few weeks later for a march across the studio stage!

YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - ABC News (Joanna Feng)

After that, Edden promised to meet with Marshall again – this time away from the camera – and give him a special tour of the castle.

Check out the video below to see the kind guardsman make a little boy’s dream come true!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

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