The MetTaskforce, which contains the Mounted Branch of London's Metropolitan Police, took to Twitter on Wednesday to make a somber announcement.

"It's with the greatest of sadness to announce that PH Keston has passed away," the account shared. "PH Keston regularly escorted HM The Queen on various state events and other high profile occasions. He was a real crowed pleaser with people around London. Thank you for your service Keston. Rip." The tweet also had three images of the late horse wearing the uniform harness.

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It's with the greatest of sadness to announce that PH Keston has passed away. PH Keston regularly escorted HM The Queen on various state events and other high profile occasions. He was a real crowed pleaser with people around London. Thank you for your service Keston. Rip. pic.twitter.com/sN1MuLBqZv — MetTaskforce (@MetTaskforce) January 2, 2019

PH Keston's service has been documented on the platform since just a few months after the MetTaskforce joined Twitter in February of 2016, through which one can get a glimpse of the horse's daily duties.



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PH Quixote and PH Keston have been patrolling around the Churchill Gardens area @MPSChurchill @MPSWestminster this lunchtime as here have been reports of anti-social behaviour. Lots of smiley children and one male educated on his driving around horses. pic.twitter.com/NWACe6ICC2 — MetTaskforce (@MetTaskforce) August 12, 2018

Keston first appears in some photos of the Guard Change at Buckingham Palace in June of 2016 (during which the horse reportedly stayed dry, despite the rain), and is featured several times thereafter escorting the Prince of Wales and the Queen. Often, though, it seems like PH Keston's job was to greet the public—adults and children alike.

One particularly sweet post from 2017 shows Keston laying in his stable and enjoying some hay (or as the MetTaskforce put it, having "breakfast in bed").

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Keston still found time for breakfast in bed this morning before escorting The Kings Troop #mountedbranch pic.twitter.com/kQEKWNMRdW — MetTaskforce (@MetTaskforce) November 14, 2017

It's unclear how close Queen Elizabeth was to her four-legged escort, but with her well-documented love of horses, she'll likely be saddened by the news. Even at 92, the British monarch rides horses, and is of course a staple at horse-centric events like the annual Royal Ascot.

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