Beefeater holds vigil in front of Queen’s coffin says fainted guard ‘recovered shortly after’

One Beefeater who was guarding the Queen’s coffin said the guard who fainted from the podium on Wednesday night ‘recovered shortly after’.

Scottish RAF veteran Tam Reilly witnessed the drama last night watching over the late king as she lay in state inside the Palace of Westminster – a role the Dundonians proudly describe as ‘ an absolute honor’.

It comes as thousands of mourners join the queue to pay their last respects to the king following her death at Balmoral last Thursday.

But onlookers were horrified when a guard started swaying on his feet just before he collapsed.

The man had moments earlier stepped off the platform before returning to his post as other servicemen joined him to change.

The moment the guard fell forward on the stone floor as police officers rushed to his aid last night, left, with Beefeater Tam Reilly, is pictured as he stands guard.

Two police officers quickly ran to help the man as the remaining guards continued to guard beside the coffin

But seconds later, he blacked out and fell forward, landing on the stone floor to gasps from the bystanders lined up to pay their respects.

The live stream was also cut off for a few minutes as police rushed to assist the man.

Asked on Twitter about the guard’s performance, veteran Tam – who spent 35 years with the RAF before becoming the Tower of London’s 414th Beefeater Organizer in February – said: ‘As far as As far as I know, he recovered within the next 30 years.’

Mr. Reilly, joined the RAF Regiment at the age of 23 and has since been stationed across the country, most recently as the Training Assurance and Training Support Officer at RAF Honington.

Tam Reilly, an RAF veteran from Scotland, said standing guard for the Queen last night was an ‘absolute honor’ and added that the fallen guard ‘recovered shortly afterwards’.

At the age of 55, he swapped out uniforms to join 32 other Yeoman Warders (YW) soldiers who lived and worked in the Tower of London as one of its famous ‘Beefeaters’.

Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower of London since Tudor times, with members of their ranks drawn from all three branches of the army.

Yeomans Warders, along with staff from The Sovereign’s Guard and Guard, has been drafted to guard His Majesty’s coffin around the clock.

It comes after crowds lined the streets of central London as she was moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

King Charles, William and Harry reunited to mourn and march behind the coffin, which made its final journey out of Buckingham Palace at 2:22pm.

A brief ceremony was held with the Royal Family at the Palace of Westminster, before members of the public were approached to pay their respects from 5pm.

As the late King’s coffin was placed in the hall, photos captured the memorable moment for the Duke of Sussex as he held his head in his hands, covering his eyes and looking down.

Wearing a suit decorated with medals, he was standing next to the Duchess of Sussex, who was looking down with a gloomy expression on his face.

Prince Harry and his brother Prince William stood with their wives Meghan and Kate as they set aside their bitter feud to pay their respects to their grandmother.

While the siblings walked side by side in the 38-minute procession from Buckingham Palace, the couple traveled in separate cars, with Meghan accompanied by the Countess of Wessex and Kate with Camilla, the Queen Consort.

During the ceremony, the ‘Fab Four’ stood in formation facing the coffin in a purple-clad catafalque, flanked by tall, yellow candles flashing at each corner of the wide red platform at the center of Westminster Hall – the backdrop of some of the most famous moments in British history.

The moment the first members of the public stepped inside the Palace of Westminster to see the Queen’s coffin as she lay in state until Monday

Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace of Westminster this evening

People line up as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrives at Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace as she lies in good condition

The Sussexes are at the back of the royal family, with Harry right behind William and Meghan behind Kate. The touching moment was the first time the couples were seen together since a surprise walk together at Windsor Castle on Saturday, and was a rare display of togetherness.

The Queen’s coffin entered Westminster Hall as the choir of Westminster Abbey and the choir of Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, sang Psalm 139. When the Queen arrived, Charles, William and Anne saluted. Harry and Prince Andrew – banned from wearing military uniforms – bowed instead.

Thousands of wise men passed through the historic hall during the evening and early hours of this morning.

Those waiting to pay their respects were given color-coded bracelets to temporarily leave the queue to buy food and use the restroom.

Route managers have also been advised to spot people who may be having trouble, taking them out of the queue for a ‘cup of tea’. They may then be allowed to come closer to the front.

The Palace of Westminster will remain open 24 hours a day until 6.30am on Monday – the day of the Queen’s funeral.