British Queen's Guard Collapses with a 'Thud' Sound

Queen's Condolence Procession Crowded with People
UK Government Deploys 1,500 Police and Royal Guards Over Safety Concerns
Average 3 Minutes to Pay Respects at the Coffin and Exit

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] As the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was opened to the public, an endless stream of mourners wishing to share the queen's final moments continued to arrive. Amid this, an incident occurred where a guard standing watch over the queen's coffin collapsed.

According to BBC and The Independent on the 15th (local time), around 1 a.m. at Westminster Hall, a guard collapsed while standing watch over the queen's coffin.

As soon as the guard stepped onto the platform, he staggered several times. He eventually lost his balance and fell forward. A 'thud' sound was heard inside the hall when he fell. The guard was known to belong to the Royal Company of Archers, the Scottish royal bodyguard unit. It was reported that the guard did not sustain serious injuries.

When the guard collapsed, two nearby police officers and other officials rushed over to support him. Other guards standing watch over the queen's coffin and royal guards remained motionless and stayed in their positions despite the commotion.

This scene was captured on a live broadcast by the British BBC. The BBC briefly switched the screen after the guard collapsed.

The queen's coffin was moved to Westminster Hall inside the UK Parliament building the previous day and was opened to the public from 5 p.m. on the 14th (local time). The royal guards and the Tower of London guards stand watch over the coffin placed on the central bier 24 hours a day.

The guards work in four shifts of six hours each. They stand watch for 20 minutes at a time. During this period, they must stand still without moving. After the next shift arrives, they change duty and take a 40-minute break.

◆ The queue to pay respects to the queen stretches over 7 km, forming a massive crowd

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin will remain at Westminster Hall for four days until 6:30 a.m. on the funeral day, the 19th. According to local media such as AP, BBC, and The Guardian, the queue to pay respects to the queen stretched about 7 km. To pay respects at Westminster Hall, one must wait at least nine hours. The condolence line extended beyond Tower Bridge to the south bank of the River Thames.

The procession to commemorate the queen stretched for about 7 km in a long line. Photo by Yonhap News

Given the large crowds, the UK government thoroughly prepared safety measures to prevent accidents during the first public viewing and funeral procession starting in London. Portable toilets were installed along the route for mourners, and medical professionals were deployed for emergencies. The royal guards and 1,500 London police officers were also deployed to prepare for any possible terrorist threats.

Some mourners who passed security checks and entered Westminster Hall shed tears in front of the queen's coffin. Some knelt and gave a farewell kiss to the queen. Although the ways of saying goodbye varied, foreign media reported that a common reaction was to take a last look at the queen's coffin before leaving. Only a little over three minutes were allowed from paying respects at the coffin to exiting.

The public viewing will continue 24 hours a day until 6:30 a.m. on the 19th, just before the queen's funeral. The UK government expects about 750,000 people from across the UK, including tourists, to pay their respects.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.