London: An armed Queen’s Guard raised his rifle at a ranting potential intruder outside Buckingham Palace in a ‘shocking’ drama outside the royal gates. The tense encounter came after the man, who was seen at the north centre gate of the palace, had spent five minutes shouting at royal protection officers.

On the job: According to a tourist, the man’s encounter with police escalated before the armed soldier rushed to the scene. File Pic/Getty Images

The guard, dressed in the traditional red uniform and bearskin hat, reportedly strode 50 yards from his post to up the pressure in the confrontation. Witnesses described how his raised weapon, with an attached bayonet, was levelled at the throat of the man as they exchanged heated words on Friday afternoon. Tourist Gareth Scanlan, 32, told how the man’s encounter with police escal