Trooping the Colour: Former Chief of Defence staff Lord Guthrie falls from horse during ceremony

Tony Diver
Updated
Lord Guthrie, appearing to collapse before falling from his horse at the Trooping the Colour ceremony - REX/Shutterstock
Lord Guthrie, appearing to collapse before falling from his horse at the Trooping the Colour ceremony - REX/Shutterstock

Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, the former Chief of the General Staff, was injured after falling from his horse during Trooping the Colour on Saturday.

Lord Guthrie, 79, was treated on The Mall by paramedics after appearing to collapse and slip from his steed.

He was taken to hospital, where aides said he was "being well looked after".

Lord Guthrie, who was taking part as Colonel of the Life Guards, was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, from 1994 to 1997, and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1997 until his retirement in 2001.

The incident took place close the Victoria Memorial, at the top of the Mall, in front of dozens of people waiting to watch the fly past and appearance of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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Pictures show Lord Guthrie on the ground, as officers rushed to his aid while another officer leads his horse away.

Emily Dance, 22, said: "We were standing further up the mall and we saw the guy on his horse, and his posture was just sloped, he was lent back at a 45 degree angle. We spotted him way off. He looked like he was going to faint.

Trooping the Colour - Lord Guthrie fall - Credit: PA Wire
Police officers at the scene Credit: PA Wire

"Once the Queen had gone past we then followed her up the Mall, and we got closer and heard from people near us that he was shaking, and people were propping him up, next to him.

"He was behind the Queen, and just in front of the monument he fell off, and there were loads of paramedics and they put a screen up as well. Then we thought, something bad is really happening. "

Will Berry, 22, added:  "There were a pair of policemen next to him, within that crowd, keeping their eye on him all the time."

John Nichol, the former Iraq prisoner of war turned author, said: "Really hope all is OK - a nicer General Officer you could not hope to meet. Wishing you well Sir."

Trooping the Colour Lord Guthrie fall - Credit: PA Wire
Police came swiftly to Lord Guthrie's aid Credit: PA Wire

During Lord Guthrie's military career he saw service with the Welsh Guards and the SAS and was closely involved in military operations in Northern Ireland.

Trooping the Colour - Lord Guthrie fall - Credit: PA Wire
Police stand by as Lord Guthrie receives medical attention Credit: PA Wire

He advised the Government on the conduct of the Kosovo War and also cautioned against a British invasion of Zimbabwe to remove the then-dictator Robert Mugabe. 

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that Lord Guthrie was receiving medical attention.

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Meanwhile, a 51-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence after an item was thrown towards a procession at Trooping the Colour, Scotland Yard said.