Prince William braved sweltering temperatures over the weekend to oversee final preparations for a major royal event.
Thousands gathered at Horse Guards Parade in Central London to see him carry out The Colonel’s Review ahead of Trooping the Colour during the King’s Birthday Parade this Saturday.
The ceremony involved hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music.
William inspected his troops on horseback, wearing a bearskin cap and red dress uniform, for the first time as Colonel of the Welsh Guards.
And it seems he made a subtle yet poignant change to his uniform, which he has made to others too.
The epaulettes (shoulder decoration) of the jacket now feature the cyphers of both the late Quee n as well as the new one for his father King Charles.
Those who are appointed an aide-de-camp to the monarch are allowed to wear the insignia, with William carrying out the position to his father and grandmother.
He first sported both cyphers on the shoulder of his RAF uniform while carrying out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle last month.
During Saturday's Trooping rehearsals, temperatures soared to 28C, with the baking heat proving too much for some, and the prince later tweeted his thanks to those who had taken part.
At least three soldiers fainted and were taken off on stretchers while two more were helped off the parade ground.
One member of the Massed Bands of the Household Division returned to his feet after collapsing and was greeted with a round of applause from the audience.
He appeared to attempt to carry on playing his instrument but was swiftly escorted off by medical staff.
William acknowledged the “difficult conditions” in a tweet he signed with his initial.
He wrote: “A big thank you to every solider (sic) who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job. Thank you. W.”
The Colonel’s Review is the final evaluation of the Household Division before the soldiers and horses parade for the King during Trooping the Colour on June 17 to mark the monarch’s official birthday.
This year, it is the turn of the Welsh Guards – the King’s former division – to Troop their Colour.
Preparations for the ceremony began even before the King’s coronation, with all seven regiments of the Household Division taking part, including the five regiments of the foot guards – Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh – and two mounted regiments – the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
The annual event has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign for more than 260 years.
