Queen
Elizabeth's 91st birthday celebration was almost marred after a
guardsman fainted during hot conditions at a parade to honour the
British Monarch.
The guardsman falls flat in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II
The 91st birthday celebration of Queen Elizabeth was almost marred after a guardsman fainted during hot conditions at a parade to honour the British Monarch.
With The Queen and the rest of the family watching on, the
unfortunate soldier took a tumble during the performance at Horse Guards
Parade.
He began to wobble before hitting the deck – first on his knees,
before tumbling forward head first into the deck. The show went on as
two officials appeared with a stretcher to collect the soldier. Five
Guardsmen were stretchered off Horse Guards Parade in all during the
ceremony.
Temperatures are forecast to hit 29C today in London in one of the
hottest days of the year but temps were a touch cooler at around 26C
earlier today.
The Queen , 91, marked her official birthday today with the pomp and pageantry of the famous event but also acknowledged the “succession of terrible tragedies” in recent weeks.
Under blue skies and brilliant summer sunshine the Queen watched
the centuries-old military spectacle of might, splendor and precision
marching on Horse Guards Parade, Henry VIII’s former jousting yard.
The event is an important day in the armed forces’ calendar where
the families and friends of the officers and soldiers on parade, proudly
watch the ceremony.
But with the nation reeling from the Grenfell Tower block inferno
that has so far claimed 30 lives and the recent terrorist attacks in
Manchester and London, the Queen issued a message on her official
birthday to recognize the feelings of many.
Before the Queen arrived, the wives, girlfriends and other
relatives of the men on the parade ground rose as one to observe a
minute’s silence for the victims of the fire.
The Queen said in her message: “Today is traditionally a day of
celebration. This year, however, it is difficult to escape a very
sombre national mood. In recent months, the country has witnessed a
succession of terrible tragedies.
“As a nation, we continue to reflect and pray for all those who have been directly affected by these events.”
A cheer from the hundreds gathered in nearby St James’s Park and
The Mall had signaled the Queen’s carriage procession was approaching,
with the monarch riding in an Ascot Landau with the Duke of Edinburgh.
A few minutes earlier the Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall
and Prince Harry had travelled together in another carriage, while in a
third was the Duke of York with his daughters Princesses Beatrice and
Eugenie and the Earl of Wessex.
The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the
Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of
Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, were on horseback.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said the Countess of Wessex did not attend as she had a private engagement.
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