Horse’s tragic death cancels royal ceremony
June 3rd, 2011 - 8:41 pm ICT by IANSLondon, June 3 (IANS) A royal gun salute marking the Queen’s coronation was cancelled after an Army horse died accidentally while participating in the ceremony.
Members of the public watched in horror as the horse called Murphy became entangled with a gun carriage during the historic annual event in Hyde Park, London, Daily Express reported Friday.
The horse suffered a complex leg fracture and vets couldn’t save him.
The tragedy happened as soldiers from the Kings Troop were lining up during the Royal Salute, which is held June 2 anually to mark the Queen’s Coronation.
Murphy became trapped in the wheels and ended up being dragged across the grass.
Soldiers rushed to help save him but a vet decided the stricken horse was too badly injured and a green tent was erected while he was put to sleep.
The 17 century “Gun salutes” are the firing of cannons as a military honour.
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Tags: anually, cannons, daily express, grass, gun carriage, gun salute, gun salutes, hyde park, hyde park london, june 3, kings troop, leg fracture, military honour, royal ceremony, royal salute, tent, tragedy, tragic death, vet, wheels