‘There were gasps’ How RAMPAGING HORSE almost ruined Kate and William’s royal wedding
PRINCE William and Kate’s royal wedding was picture-perfect - but the big day was almost ruined when a rampaging horse tore through the procession.
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As the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their way from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace by horse and carriage they were cheered on by more than one million people lining the streets.
The royal fans had come to show their support for the future king and his bride but none of them had expected to witness the drama that unfolded before them.
Suddenly one of the many horses walking with the couple in the 1902 State Landau carriage became unsettled by the cheering crowds and bucked its rider, who fell to the ground.
The crowd gasped and Kate herself looked worried as the horse reared up before the rider got to his feet and quickly grabbed the reins, allowing the royal couple to pass.
However the horse could not be restrained and broke free again, running loose down Whitehall past Prince William and Kate and eventually into Horse Guards Parade.
Witnesses said the situation could have been much worse, especially if the horse had ploughed into the crowd.
Kate, who is allergic to horses, looked temporarily unsettled before composing herself and waving to royal wedding wellwishes.
Witnesses reported their shock at the incident and relief at how a "disaster" was avoided.
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Claire Davis, who had travelled from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, said: “Quite a few people gasped when the soldier fell off. The rider did well to stop it going into the crowd at a crucial moment.
“If it had gone into the crowd, it could have been a disaster.”
Another witness said Kate seemed “a little bit worried” by the incident.
But luckily disaster was averted and the horse was brought under control in Horse Guards, with no injuries reported.
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Captain James Hulme said at the time: “It was just a complete accident. The guy was riding on the outside and trotting round a corner.
“Because he was on the outside, his horse had to be moving at a fast pace and this led to it losing its footing as it went round the corner.
“The rider is completely free of injury.”