At least three guardsmen fainted in the heat during a military parade as temperatures in the UK soared to 30C (86F) for the first time this year, according to a report in leading British newspaper The Guardian.
The event at Horse Guards Parade in central London on Saturday was a rehearsal for trooping the colour and was reviewed by Prince William. Afterwards, the Prince tweeted that the troops had done “a really good job” in difficult conditions.
At least three British royal guards collapsed during a parade rehearsal in London ahead of King Charles’ official birthday as temperatures exceeded 88 degrees Fahrenheit pic.twitter.com/V0fLjROoD5
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 10, 2023
The soldiers were wearing woollen tunics and bearskin hats as a heat wave swept across London. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a hot weather alert for South England.
The event was a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, an annual military parade held each June to mark the monarch’s official birthday. King Charles III will oversee the ceremony on June 17