- Thursday, February 27, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE British Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations witnessed some tense moments on Friday (3) when five soldiers collapsed outside the St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of a service of thanksgiving to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years in the throne.
The incidents happened just ahead of the royals’ arrival at the service in the morning, The Mirror reported.
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However, while many expressed concerns over the soldiers’ health, there were also people who mocked their health condition. One coloured Twitter user asked jokingly how could soldiers with such health could colonise Africa for a long period when one could see that soldiers brought to the UK from Africa for the occasion stood tall.
Soldiers brought in from Africa to line up the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral alongside their British counterparts during the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations, look on as a Royal Air Force airman collapse.
They prolly like how this MFs colonize us.?!? pic.twitter.com/v18rqP839B— ????? ????™ (@Kenny_Kyp) June 3, 2022
Another user said the soldiers collapsed because they didn’t take the booster dose against Covid-19.
“Dont look at this, its normal. Dont forget to get your boosters,” the user said.
Dont look at this, its normal.
Dont forget to get your boosters.5 soldiers collapse outside St Paul’s Cathedral as Royal Family arrive on#lizardDay
https://t.co/LuPlFtXB2z— ?? BLOKE IN PUB (@paulturner2012) June 4, 2022
The first incident of collapse saw a Royal Air Force soldier collapsing and he was soon helped by his colleagues to get back onto his feet. He was led away to recover. It appeared that he fell just before the arrival of British foreign secretary Liz Truss at St Paul’s. The crowd cheered as the man was helped to recover.
Another man in uniform, believed to be a member of the Canadian artillery, also fell but managed to continue to stand guard on the cathedral’s steps as guests started arriving.
Three other soldiers also reportedly collapsed.
Video footage showed political leaders reaching the cathedral for the service with huge crowds standing outside.
On Twitter, The Telegraph’s associate editor Camilla Tominey tweeted: “A soldier has just keeled over, received medical attention and is now back on his feet with a cheer.”
A soldier has just keeled over, received medical attention and is now back on his feet with a cheer #PlatinumJubilee #toomuchexcitement
— Camilla Tominey (@CamillaTominey) June 3, 2022
The 96-year-old Queen, who was due to attend St Paul’s, pulled out on Thursday (2) night after feeling “some discomfort” during the day’s Trooping the Colour and the RAF flypast events.
A statement issued by the palace the same evening said: “The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s birthday parade and flypast but did experience some discomfort.
“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend.”
