King Charles III’s security team have been attracting their fair share of attention in recent days, as the new monarch has been out greeting the crowds in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
However, one of them in particular has attracted attention on social media.
The security guard has seen accompanying the monarch on several of his recent social engagements, with many on TikTok and other sites comparing him to a character from the Kingsman film franchise.
Who is King Charles’ private bodyguard and how did the comparisons come about?
The King’s private bodyguard has not officially been named – although the bearded security officer has been ever-present at his public appearances in recent days.
He was heard asking crowds to put their phones down as the new monarch greeted well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace following his return to London.
‘Phones down as we come past please,’ he was heard saying, telling the public to ‘enjoy the moment’.
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However, it’s his umbrella which has attracted the most interest – and therefore the Kingsman comparison – causing him to go viral on TikTok.
Many have likened him to Colin Firth’s character, Harry Hart, referring to the umbrella he has been carrying as a ‘gunbrella’ – similar to the gadget-laden device Firth’s character carries in that film.
‘That thing he’s holding is a GUNbrella, not an umbrella,’ one person commented on Twitter, while another added: ‘I love him he needs to be the next James Bond… such an amazing guy.’
Not only has he been attracting attention, but the royal bodyguards in general have come under the spotlight, with some suggesting their hands may not be moving.
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It’s been suggested their hands are decoys for weapons hidden beneath their coats, and over the years, there have been rumours they use fake hands and arms in order to keep the likes of an FN-P90 rifle under their coats, should the worst happen.
But nothing has ever been proven.
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