British guards faint from heat during Trooping the Colour rehearsal: ‘It’s like a sauna’

A trombone player of the military band is carried out on a stretcher after a faint during the Colonel's Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, the King's annual birthday parade, at Horse Guards Parade in London. Photo / AP

Several British soldiers were overcome by the heat on Saturday as they turned out in woollen tunics and bearskin hats to salute Prince William.

At least three guardsmen fainted during the military parade known as the Colonel’s Review, in which more than 1400 soldiers of the Household Division and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery were reviewed by the heir to the throne, who is honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards.

The temperature in London on Saturday was due to hit 30C.

Video footage shows a trombone player was overwhelmed by the temperatures trying to stay upright and continue to play, before collapsing and being led away from the procession.

Another guard can be seen in the background being carried away on a stretcher as the remaining guards continued their routine.

A trombone player of the military band faints during the Colonel's Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, the King's annual birthday parade, at Horse Guards Parade in London. Photo / AP

Afterwards William tweeted: “A big thank you to every soldier who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job.”

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.

Over 1,400 soldiers of the Household Division and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery took part in the rehearsal, during which they are evaluated before the official parade.

Daily Mail UK has reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not attend the Trooping the Colour this year. They visited the UK for the event last year during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.

- Additional reporting NZ Herald