Royal Guard collapses in front of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin: Video

As Queen Elizabeth II lay in state in Westminster Hall on Wednesday evening, one of the Royal Guards standing vigil fainted and fell off the podium in full view of the cameras.

The livestream from Westminster Hall showed a black-clad guard holding a ceremonial staff falling facedown, and two others rushing to help him.

The cameras immediately cut to the exterior of the building, and then was briefly suspended as thousands of mourners continued to file past the late monarch's casket.


Here is a short video clip showing what happened.

The Queen’s coffin is placed on a catafalque, or a raised platform, while soldiers in ceremonial uniform will maintain a 24-hour vigil till September 19.

Members of the Sovereign’s Bodyguard and Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London are required to remain completely still at the four corners of the catafalque.

There was no official update immediately available on why the guard collapsed, and what happened to him afterwards.

For those who were wondering how an able-bodied man could collapse like that, the speculation on social media was that he might have suffered a 'syncope'.

A syncope, by medical definition, is a temporary loss of consciousness and muscle strength caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain, typically from low blood pressure

“Extremely common in military formations but usually outside on a warm day,” said one Twittter user, while some suggested it happens from keeping leg muscles still for a long while.

While the guards rotate every 20 minutes, they may be required to remain completely still for upto six hours in total.

The late Queen will lie in state from February 14 to February 19, the date on which a state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, the historic church where Britain's kings and queens are crowned. Hundreds of thousands of mourners will turn up during these days to pay their respects to the late monarch.