Brutal schedule that led to guard fainting at the Queen's coffin
Yesterday (15 September) a royal guard fainted while guarding the Queen's coffin. Watch the moment here:
After the shocking incident was broadcast live on stream, the 'brutal' schedule that the guards have to follow has been revealed, which includes 'standing perfectly still for hours on end'.
However, this procedure seemed to be too much for this guard, who collapsed in the early hours of the morning at Westminster Hall.
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As he fell off the catafalque, the framework supporting the coffin, he landed with a thud while officers rushed to help.
However, the other guards on duty looked unfazed by the incident, fully committed to their duties of guarding Her Majesty’s coffin.
It is currently unknown if he suffered any injuries.
The footage was taken as the guards begin to swap their duties, one of the major parts of their schedule to ensure the coffin is guarded at all times.
Guards must be constantly present, 24 hours a day, as the Queen lies in state before her funeral on Monday 19 September.
Those currently guarding the monarch's body are soldiers from the Household Division, Sovereign's Bodyguard, and Yeoman Warders.
After the clip was shared to social media, some viewers were particularly worried about the hours the guards had been working, with one user saying: "Poor guy. I hope he's been given time off to rest and recuperate. I also hope that those in charge reconsider the system and reduce the shift hours."
So, what exactly are the guard's hours, and do they get a break?
Well, the servicemen are required to remain still as they stand to watch over the coffin at the four corners of the catafalque.
Their rigorous schedule includes standing by the coffin for six hours in total, and rotate every 20 minutes around the coffin.
There's been a lot of pressure placed on the guards, with the Queen's lying-in-state attracting thousands of mourners, queuing for hours to pay their respects.
Some have even slept on the streets for two days to get to the front of the queue, with three women that caught headlines earlier this week, Vanessa, Anne, and Grace, being among the first to see the Queen's coffin.
Speaking about the experience, Anne, from Wales, said: "First and foremost we want to pay our respects to Her Majesty the Sovereign who spent 70 years of her life dedicating a life to this country.
"She was just a remarkable steadfast lady. She never let anybody down. She was always punctual, always had time for everybody; particularly when she came to Aberfan."
LADbible has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
Shola Lee