Several of Queen's guardsmen COLLAPSE during Trooping the Colour parade
AT LEAST five of the Queen's Guardsmen have collapsed at the Queen's Trooping the Colour parade.
Soldiers carry on stretcher as Queen's Guardsman FAINTS
In soaring temperatures, at least five of the Guardsmen collapsed during a ceremony at Horse Guards Parade this lunchtime.
Shocking photos from the Queen's birthday celebrations show several men collapsed on the ground before being carried away on stretchers.
Dressed in full uniform, including a bearskin, one soldier fell forward out of his formation as temperatures soared to 27C.
As the band marched towards his position, the guardsman in the second row collapsed to his knees before landing face down with his hands to his side.
His colleagues maintained position as the ceremony to mark the Queen's birthday continued around him before three soldiers then walked to his aid.
One removed the man's bearskin before he was lifted on to a stretcher.
A guardsman has fainted at the Queen's Trooping the Colour ceremony
Several of the Queen's guardsmen have collapsed during her birthday celebrations
Several other guardsmen at the event are believed to have fallen victims to the higher-than-average temperatures on Saturday, also fainting.
An Army spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that during the Queen's birthday parade today a small number of soldiers fainted.
"It is an extremely hot day and all were removed from the Parade and checked by medical staff where they were hydrated."
Members of the Royal Family watching an RAF fly-by during the Queen's birthday celebrations
Others show other guardsmen being handed water as they sit on the floor.
One photo shows a guardsman being carried away on a stretcher.
Temperatures in London this afternoon have soared to 27 degrees celcius, possibly contributing to the guardsman's collapse.
From her vantage point on a dias the Queen, with Philip beside her, watched the precision marching of the Guardsmen.
Four of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division, the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards, were on parade, but away from their ceremonial duties they are also fighting soldiers.
A collapsed guard being attended to by a Met Police officer
In total 1,600 soldiers and 244 horses from the Household Division were on parade during the ceremony. Only a few weeks ago some of the servicemen were on the streets of London, supporting the Met Police on Operation Temperer in the wake of the terrorist attack in Manchester.
Members of the Royal Family later viewed an RAF fly-by from the Buckingham Palace balcony.