Prince William participated in the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, and the heat was unbearable.
The rehearsal, which takes place in anticipation of the King's Birthday Parade, aka "Trooping the Colour" on June 17, is the first time William conducted the review of the Welsh Guards as Colonel of the Regiment, and it almost went off without a hitch.
According to the Royal Family's website, "The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years." It includes "over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians."
But during the rehearsal, one member of the Band of the Welsh Guards fainted while conducting the review, and the photos took me by surprise.
And he attempted to return to his feet.
And he was safely escorted from the field by the medics.
After the trombonist was carried away by a stretcher, the Prince of Wales thanked the soldiers for taking part in the practice ceremony despite the "difficult conditions." The weather was reported to be exceeding 80°F (26°C) on Saturday.
The trombonist fainting wasn't an isolated incident. Upon further review, I discovered that this occurs more often than not during the Colonel's Review.
On the same day, another member of Coldstream Guards fell to the ground due to the heat.
But it doesn't just happen more than once a day. Guards fainting happens every — single — year.
It even occurred when the celebration was in honor of King Charles's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 2017.
And here's a guard laying on the ground in 2014.
And here's another time in 2000.
And, yet another guardsman fainting all the way back in 1963.
And, finally, here's a photo of a guardsman fainting over 65 years ago.
You can watch a video of the Colonel’s Review at Horse Guards Parade from the Royal Family Channel here:
Prince William led the Colonel’s Review at Horse Guards Parade ahead of The King's Birthday Parade, in what is regarded as a rehearsal of Trooping the Colour.
The Prince of Wales praised the soldiers who took part under “difficult conditions” as temperatures reached 28C. pic.twitter.com/LhUjuiErw4
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) June 10, 2023
