Historical Photos To Blow Your Mind: New Release!

Out Cold

During Queen Elizabeth II’s 1970 parade, one of the guards fainted from the heat just when the Queen was passing behind him. Oops. The photo was taken during the Trooping the Colour, an annual parade of the entire Household Division. During the parade, the Queen rides around the troops to inspect them. During the second part of the inspection, where she checks them from the back, this poor guard lost consciousness.

There are a couple of reasons a Royal Guard might faint. It could’ve been the temperature, or he could’ve been locking his knees. Combined with the nerves that must come from the Queen’s watchful eyes on your back, we can understand why this guard lost his balance.