Guard passes out while standing guard by the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Late Wednesday, a guard standing next to Queen Elizabeth II's coffin passed out and fell face-first to the floor as people came to pay their respects at Westminster Hall, where she is lying in state.

The now-viral video shows that the guard, who is wearing a black uniform and holding a staff, first seems to fall off the raised platform, called a catafalque, where the Queen's casket is sitting.

After swaying a bit, he steps off the platform for a moment before getting back up and taking his place. A few seconds later, he suddenly trips and falls forward, landing on his face as the crowd gasps.

When his hat fell off, a head of white hair was revealed, and two men ran over to help him stand up.

The Daily Mail said that the BBC stopped live-streaming the event for a few minutes while police and other people responded.

The paper says that service members from the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division, or the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London watch over the Queen's coffin around the clock.

The guard fell while hundreds of thousands of people waited in lines up to 30 hours long on the streets of London to pay their respects to the Queen, who died last Thursday at the age of 96 after ruling for 70 years.

To keep the line moving quickly all day and night, mourners will be asked to pass the coffin without stopping.

Around 3 p.m. local time, the Queen's body arrived at Westminster Hall, followed by her son and heir, King Charles III, and her fighting grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Queen Consort Camilla, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, were among the other senior members of the royal family who were there.

There will be 20 vigils until Monday morning, when the Queen's coffin will be taken to Westminster Abbey for the funeral.

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