While 86 degrees Fahrenheit temperature may be considered “normal” for the human body, there’s nothing normal about standing at attention under a giant bearskin hat in woolen tunics in the middle of it. As such, at least three guardsmen fainted during a military parade on Saturday due to heat, as per The Guardian.

More than 1,400 soldiers were reviewed by Prince William, the honorary colonel of the Welsh guards, in anticipation of the forthcoming Trooping the Colour event, which King Charles III will oversee on June 17. The rehearsal took place at central London’s Horse Guards Parade in St. James Park. If one were a monocle-wearing Major General in a film set during WWI, I suppose you would say that 1,397 of the soldiers did a spot-on job. Unlucky business about the other three.  

Prince William, however, was more kind, tweeting, “A big thank you to every soldier who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job.”

He reprised these sentiments while including some photos a few hours later.

As per BBC Wildlife, those are, indeed, real bearskin hats worn by King's Guard (sourced from Canadian pelts.) They were introduced after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 “to make the soldiers appear taller and more intimidating when in combat.”

While King Charles turns 75 this November 14, the Trooping the Colour event is an annual ceremony meant to celebrate the British Sovereign’s birthday. In addition to the 1,400 soldiers, “200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark the Sovereign's official birthday,” as per the official website of the British royal family. “The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony,” the description continues. 

The first Trooping the Colour was held in 1748 for King Charles II’s birthday. When King George III ascended the throne in 1760, it was decided to maintain the ceremony as an annual June event. Everyone likes a summer parade. Well, everyone except for fainting soldiers in giant furry hats. 

In keeping with the theme of overheated British soldiers, here’s the scene of T.E. Lawrence parched after a march through the desert, demanding lemonade in the officer’s club.