A royal guard who stood alongside the coffin of Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall on Wednesday fainted and fell face first to the ground as the public filed into state.
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In the footage that has gone viral, the guard, dressed in a black uniform and holding a stick, initially appears to stumble from his position on the catafalque.
He briefly descends from the platform and appears dazed. He pulled himself together before resuming his position. Moments later, he falls violently, landing face down.
Two men rush to help him.
The BBC, which was broadcasting the ceremony live, cut its signal for several minutes as emergency services responded, the Daily Mail reported.
The Queen’s coffin is guarded 24 hours a day by members of the Royal Guard Service.
The incident came as hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of London until 30 a.m. to pay their respects to the Queen, who died last Thursday aged 96 following a reign of 70 year.
Mourners will be asked to walk past the casket without stopping to ensure the line moves quickly throughout the day and night.
The Queen’s body arrived at Westminster Hall around 3pm on Wednesday, followed by her son and heir, King Charles III, and her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The Queen’s coffin will be transported to Westminster Abbey for the funeral next Monday.
