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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Chiara Fiorillo & Lynn Love

Serviceman passes out amid 26C heat as Prince William takes on Trooping the Colour role

A serviceman collapsed in 26C heat as Prince William took on his new Trooping the Colour role earlier today.

The soldier was taking part in the Colonel's Review ahead of the King's birthday parade next week when he collapsed. He had to be taken away by stretcher during the ceremony.

British Army's foot guard regiments wear bearskin hats and ceremonial uniforms during events such as Trooping the Colour and with temperature in London hitting 29C, the weight of the clothing became too heavy, reports the Mirror.

William led the ceremony for the final review of the parade before the main event attended by the King and other senior royals during Trooping the Colour on June 17.

The first review was carried out last week by Major General Christopher John Ghika CBE.

Over 1,400 soldiers of the Household Division and The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery are taking part in the review, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands.

(PA)

Next week's ceremony will also include 250 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards and, for the first time, the 1st Battalion London Guards, who will line the processional route along The Mall.

Just after 9am this morning, the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, who will be inspecting the troops, tweeted: "Months of preparation and training go into Trooping the Colour.

"Today members of the Household Division will perform their final major rehearsal for the event in front of members of the public in London."

After the ceremony, William tweeted: "A big thank you to every solider 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"

Trooping the Colour, also referred to as the King's Birthday Parade, is a celebration of the monarch's birthday and takes place in June.

It is a display of pageantry involving numerous troops and after the ceremony, the monarch joins other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.

The first Trooping the Colour which is reviewed by The Major General usually takes place two weeks before the actual Birthday Parade.

The second Trooping the Colour which is reviewed by The Colonel of the Regiment usually takes place a week before the actual Birthday Parade.

Last year, during the first review by The Major General a woman fell through a stand alongside an eight-year-old boy and crowds were evacuated by emergency services.

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