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BBC Star Fainted Opening Diana Memorial Fountain
26 Feb
Summary
- Journalist Sian Williams fainted during live coverage of royal event.
- The incident occurred at the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.
- Williams later retrained as a chartered counselling psychologist.
In 2004, broadcast journalist Sian Williams experienced a severe stress-induced collapse while presenting live coverage of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain opening in London. The event, attended by then-Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry, was a significant occasion marking seven years since the Princess's death.
Williams, then 40, detailed to The Times how prolonged waiting in hot weather and the pressure to fill airtime led to her vision blurring and speech becoming incoherent. She lost consciousness, with the broadcast quickly switching to another correspondent.
Recovering after a few minutes and consuming some biscuits, Williams felt compelled to return to her presenting duties, driven by the knowledge of millions watching. This deeply impactful experience later contributed to her decision to qualify as a chartered counselling psychologist in 2021.
Now 61, and styling herself as 'Dr', Williams, who has authored a new book on anxiety, reflects on how she would now approach such stressful situations with more self-compassion. The memorial fountain itself, dedicated to the late Princess, was constructed in Hyde Park and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth.
