Brief
Retired SAS commander slams Irish Guards as “unarmed Teletubbies” in Downing Street photo
Former SAS leader Richard Williams used X to denounce the Irish Guards’ dress and fitness after they formed a guard of honour for President Volodymyr Zelensky.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Retired lieutenant colonel Richard Williams, who once led 22 SAS, posted on X on 17 October 2026 that the Irish Guards who lined up outside Downing Street for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s welcome of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looked like “unarmed Teletubbies”.
What happened
Eleven Irish Guards in their scarlet tunics and black bearskin hats formed a guard of honour in front of Downing Street as Burnham greeted Zelensky on Wednesday. Williams’ post included a photograph of the ceremony and a caption describing the scene as “a picture of decline”. He added that the soldiers appeared “pseudo soldiers used as decorations in ill‑fitting playground uniforms”.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that Williams compared the 2026 photograph with a 1928 image of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother inspecting the Irish Guards at the Old Chelsea Barracks on St Patrick’s Day. He argued that today’s ranks are “the very opposite of martial excellence” and far removed from the “hard steel and war‑won standards of the past”.
What was said
Williams wrote on X: “The way it was… The very opposite of martial excellence and so far from the hard steel and war‑won standards of the past. No wonder IRGC finds it easy to roam free around the UK…”.
Irish Guards commanding officer Lt Col Ben Irwin‑Clark responded to the criticism in a statement to The Sun, telling detractors “Those of you writing negative comments about the regiment need to give your heads a wobble.”
General Sir Roly Walker, the Chief of the General Staff, was quoted in the same article as saying the nation must be prepared to make sacrifices for defence, adding that a “frank discussion” between political leaders and citizens would be forthcoming.
How it came about
The criticism follows a recent Downing Street meeting in which Burnham welcomed Zelensky and an Irish Guards honour guard was present, as reported by Felo News on 14 October 2026. The same week, senior army officials warned of the need for public consent to increased defence spending and readiness, providing the broader context for Williams’ remarks.
Key facts
- Retired SAS lieutenant colonel Richard Williams called the Irish Guards “unarmed Teletubbies” after a Downing Street photo. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Eleven Irish Guards formed a guard of honour for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s welcome of President Volodymyr Zelensky on 17 October 2026. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Lt Col Ben Irwin‑Clark told The Sun that critics of the regiment should “give their heads a wobble”. (dailymail.co.uk)
- General Sir Roly Walker said the UK must prepare for sacrifices to defend the country, citing an upcoming “frank discussion”. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Ex-SAS commander fat shames Guards in Burnham-Zelensky photo”
